Showing posts with label lingerie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lingerie. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

January ~ Thrifting and some healthy changes...

 


Found a camisole at the Thrift Shop and I was SO pleased...
A lacy camisole had been on my "wish list" for quite a few months.

The cost of the ones that I loved were much more than I wanted to spend.
Trying to be mindful of expenditures now that Hubby is fully retired. 
Slowly coming to the reality that we are now "pensioners."
The cost was under $5 so easily justified :-))


Paired it with my faded denim shirt....added some pearls.

I am really enjoying wearing denim these days.
The denim jeans (no spandex) from MNG purchased last year.

Have a few old distressed items that I am happy to say didn't get culled.
The denim jacket from Old Navy, the Old Navy darker denim shirt, lighter one (here) and the denim jumper by Tribal and a chambray denim long tunic from Lands End.

I have on order a new denim dress...from Lands End.
I love how soft the garments feel when they have been washed many times.
~ COZY ~



Adding more fibre daily...
Bran Buds and protein rich Greek Yogurt
1/3 cup of each mixed together in the morning after my cup of coffee.

Also reducing portions for a while to see if this helps me shed a few pounds.
I have tried intermittent fasting for the past year and was not seeing much difference.


We have had a mixed bag with weather...
sunshine and clear blue skies mixed with gale force winds and rain.


Despite the inclement weather 
I need to push myself to get out in the fresh air...


Mother Nature's Pearls...
Snowberries.

There is snow in the forecast!!!


Lovely hand cream, William Morris At Home.
A gift from our son and the grandchildren.

Did a quick manicure today...Sally Hansen "Expresso" one coat dries in a minute. 


Soft faded denim and pearls with a wee bit of lace peeking out.


This image shows off the lace...

I didn't have my black velour jacket open this much at coffee!!!

I just wanted to show you the pretty lacy details that are hidden.

Lingerie is really a private item in our wardrobes...
wearing it makes us feel feminine and comfortable.

I love the Prima Donna line of bras and panties...
Lily Pad Lingerie here in Victoria carry their line.

I am due to visit them soon and purchase my annual supply.

Well I suppose that is all to share for now...
Hope your year is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Monday, August 27, 2018

Denim basics...and some new splurges.


Some serious work horses in my wardrobe are denim.
From left to right...
Cailey 22 shirt, no name thrifted denim jacket, Ralph Lauren denim shirt.


Soft tencel Levi's denim dress
I have been wearing this dress a lot this summer.
In the winter I pair it with capri length tights and my Chelsea boots.


Comfy boyfriend jeans by NYDJ
worn here with a striped top
Clark sandals.

I have been aware that my outfit choices have become quite repetitive...
perhaps because I have fewer items and I feel comfortable in the pieces that I keep.

It makes dressing so much easier with fewer things hanging in the closet.
Surprisingly 
I do not tire of the same clothes...
some are getting worn so much that the fabrics are softening!

I splurged on two new bras...
by
Prima Donna and Wacoal.

My "go to" black pants that I wear many times each week 
were looking rather tired...

I purchased a new pair of black Eileen Fisher pants which are really quite lovely.
They are what I consider an "investment" item 
but the cost per wearing will even out that expenditure
 over the next couple of years.

How do you feel about your wardrobe?
Are you a minimalist or do you like to have a full closet with many pieces?
Have you purchased anything for the Fall season?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Silk...and French Inspiration


Vintage Silk scarf by Vetter of Switzerland
easy to wear and so soft...
Silk and cashmere are two of my all time favourites.

When I think of lovely lingerie 
 France comes to mind...
the selection and sumptuous styles for women 
of all shapes and sizes 
are plentiful in the shops of Paris.

The lingerie sections at
Galleries Lafayette
and 
The Bon Marche 
are two that stand out.

It is so easy finding beautiful intimates in France...
there are lingerie shops in the smaller villages too!

I've been lusting after some new lingerie...
it is on the top of my list.


I love wearing this
Nougat Silk Camisole
soft mauve shade with purple lace.

Silk feels sensuous 
wearing a silk nightgown or camisole makes me feel very feminine.


I've juxtaposed the silk with denim here for a day of domestic chores and cooking.


Cooking new dishes has become a bit of an obsession of late...
Julia Child has some amazing books and You Tube videos of her PBS shows.
I have to smile when I watch some of these older videos...
she is such a character!

I felt like I was in a bit of a "cooking rut"
 so kicking it up a notch and trying some new recipes feels so energizing.


I made a jar of Julia's basic and very simple vinaigrette and loved the flavour.

In the movie Julie and Julia the scene from the Paris Cafe 
where Julia, played by the talented Maryl Streep, is served sole 
 seriously resonates with me...

that incredible dish is Sole Meuniere.

I plan to make this dish for my husband...
 I am substituting fresh halibut 
as it was the freshest fish offered at the fish monger.

The butter needs to be clarified ahead of time.
So
I spent the afternoon prepping dinner.

I made an endive leaf salad with crumbled bacon, sliced cherry tomatoes, scallions and grated parmigiano Reggiano
which is covered and is chilling in the fridge.

The vinaigrette will be drizzled over top just before serving. 

Asparagus will be steamed and served with the fish dish...
a few slices of a baguette will be at the ready to sop up any of the juices.

I will boil up a few waxy yellow potatoes to serve with the halibut.

Dessert will not be served...
as neither of us have "sweet teeth"
besides it will be a "big" meal...
enough to satisfy our humble tastebuds.

I sharpened all our knives too...
they were getting incredibly dull.

We have an electric sharpener by Chef's Choice 
I have practiced on several knives I think I have the hang of it.
Boy having a super sharp knife is so wonderful.
I'm kind of proud of myself for learning a new skill...


This book is quite a fun read...
am only into a few chapters so far as
I sat down for a few minutes to put my feet up and have a cuppa...
almost didn't want to get back up and put the book away!!



Bon Appetit!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Wednesday thoughts January. 2018....


I finally purchased a new IPhone case...
my other one was chipped and the coating was peeling off
 every time I looked at it it made me cringe so why it took me so long to find a new one is beyond me.


I'm experiencing disrupted sleep
it is most likely stress
but
like many women of my age 
who frequently find that our sleep wake rhythms change
the nights feel rather long when one lies awake 
listening to the ticking of the clock
I am trying to come to terms with these new sleep patterns
but it is not easy.

In the morning when I wake up and look in the mirror 
I see that my eyes are puffy 
and my skin has creases on the side of my face
from lying on my pillowcase.

I  googled "wrinkles on the face from sleeping" and to my surprise discovered that if one uses a satin or silk pillowcase that these wrinkles will be reduced.
I was really skeptical 
but with several leading dermatologists endorsing the product 
I thought that I better give it a try...
 after one night of sleep
I am thrilled to tell you they really do WORK!
I did not wake up "Feeling Glamorous like the box indicates 
but I woke up and was happy to see that the deep creases were not imprinted on my cheek!


I also have introduced a healthy product into my skincare regime
At bedtime after cleansing my skin
I apply a small amount of coconut oil on my face.
It is super emollient and feels so soft in the morning.
This large jar was under $10 and it will last a long time...
and you can use it all over the body.

I am taking life one day at a time...
seeking small comforts and snippets of beauty
where I can find it in my daily round...
it is a lot harder to find than it used to be
and 
if I had a magic wand I would wave it and erase all the bad stuff in our world.


I will continue...


to do my best.

Home keeping
cooking
taking care of my husband
offering support to our family
tending to our cats 
and 
walking.


sharing random acts of kindness


Cocooning and recharging....
behind closed doors.


Its also the time of year when I like to replace some of my lingerie
so this is on the top of my list of things to do 
perhaps I'll get around to it this week.

Have you got a long list of things to do this month?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Saving money, lingerie, quinoa salad and my poor sister.

I love lingerie and seem to be drawn to the boutiques that sell French lines like Chantelle and La Perla, but my goodness, I find them to be quite expensive.

Saving money,
while still buying decent fitting and pretty undergarments
has been a bit of a tedious job.

Fortunately I found some great basics at Sears and Marshall's
and they were purchased at budget friendly prices.


My all time favourite rose
Jude the Obscure is in full bloom out front in the garden.

I would love a soft peach blush bra and pantie set.


This Bali bra was found at Marshall's for just under $20.
It is a serious workhorse in the undergarment world!
Thank goodness for the architects of bras!


The "granny panties" are by Jessica from Sears.
The lace is pretty and the stitched panels help keep the wobbly bits in check!
I purchased 6 of these and I usually hand wash and hang to dry all my lingerie as it lasts much longer that way.
These were very reasonably priced...I cannot remember exactly what I paid for them but I think all 6 were about $35.

I feel very feminine when I am wearing nice lingerie.

Do you read Jennifer's blog "A Well Styled Life?"
She recently wrote a post about granny panties.
You can read it here.

The Eres panties she used in her post cost a LOT of money!
Can you guess how much they cost?

$255 a pair!
Would you pay that for a pair of granny panties?

I suppose if money grew on trees I might but alas it does not and I am very mindful of expenditures since retiring.

My poor sister was thrown off her horse when they rode through a wasp nest on The Galloping Goose trail near Metchosin.
She sustained complex fractures in her arm that requited plates and pins and she is now recovering at home.


I made a tasty quinoa bean salad from the Whitewater Cookbook for her...
and I'll bring a rose bouquet, chocolates and magazines.


We plan to go out for lunch and I will be the driver as she has her arm in a cast and will be wearing that cast for about 8 weeks.
She is already going squirrelly at home...
it must be so frustrating
I totally empathize.

I'll do my best to cheer her up.


My morning espresso was wearing a Happy Face today!

Hope that you have a great weekend.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.
XO

Friday, January 8, 2016

New Year Regimes...Skincare and Weight Loss a post that is packed to the brim!

Are you loyal to one line of skincare products?
Many women I know use the same brand and never deviate from what works for them.

My favourite aesthetician left the Spa that I have been going to for years and I followed her to her new location downtown at Sapphire Day Spa.

I treated myself to a facial before Christmas and spent a heavenly 90 minutes in her talented hands.
Like a butterfly flitting about searching for the new and improved... I purchased a "starter set" of the products that she recommended for my skin type from the Eminence line from Hungary.


Monoi Age Corrective Exfoliating Cleanser
Bamboo Firming Fluid
Neroli Age Corrective Eye Serum
Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer
Bamboo Age Corrective Masque


Once a week I use these products:

Step 1 ~ Arctic Berry Exfoliant
Step 2 ~ Arctic Berry Advanced Peel 
Step 3 ~ Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream

My skin feels so soft after the once a week treatment and it is gentle on my skin.


Good skin care is so important. 
The face reflects good skincare habits, nutritious food and healthy lifestyle choices.

After I cleanse and moisturize I wait a few minutes for the products to sink in.
I use the following products with a very "light hand."

a dusting of La Bella Donna mineral powder ~ Crema
                                      Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder ~ Antigua
Pur eye shadow ~ Lavender Mourite
Maybelline Brow Drama ~ Deep Brown
Jane Iredale Mascara ~ Black Ice
Chanel Rouge Coco ~ Orchidee

For evening I will add a very thin eye liner in dark brown and use a darker lipstick.
(the shade that I purchased in Paris) 
Maybelline ~ Pleasure Me Red


How are you feeling after the Festive Season?
Did you eat a wee bit too many sugary sweets or rich foods?
I know I did!

My jeans are a bit too snug.
I am not going to beat myself up for being human.
I just need to get back on track...
count my Weight Watcher Points and increase the pace and length of my walks.
In a few weeks the scale will reflect my dedication and my clothes will feel much more comfortable.

Here is how I will be eating.
If you care to join me we can support each other.

Breakfast ~  yogurt and fruit or Rogers Ancient Grains Oats with fruit.



Lunch is simple...salad with protein.
Often an egg or a bit of feta cheese crumbled over greens.


The protein helps keep hunger pangs away.


Snacks consist of fresh fruit or sliced
carrots and celery with 2 tablespoons of hummus.


Coffee with foamed skim milk is a treat.
I drink lots of water throughout the day...it is great for the skin and helps keep me feeling full.


Tea is my afternoon ritual.
A luxury that I indulge in when I sit for a bit and read in a cozy chair.

Dinnertime I make a protein and salad or fresh veggies.
Often skipping a starch like potatoes or rice and I try to avoid pasta.
Potatoes and pasta are my weakness!

So out of sight out of mind works best 
in this initial stage of getting back on track.

Keep moving...
walk, swim, dance, clean the house.


To keep you motivated and not deprived...
Reward yourself with non food items.


New lingerie perhaps?


A new book...


a scented candle


or rearrange your home decor
do whatever inspires you.


I like to walk and look for the beauty along the way.

Thank you for stopping by today.
Hostess

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Walking in between the Windstorms...

We had a brief respite from the storms that have been pummelling our coast and the sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky.


What a lovely view!


The blue sky was such a gift after so many days of gloomy grey.
I felt so much energy walking along the seafront.
I found myself smiling to myself and to those that I passed by.


This seagull let me get quite close to take a photo.


The sun illuminated these trees and cast an amber glow.


The shoreline was littered with large logs washed ashore from the storms.
They are tossed around like match sticks in the winds and some land on the sidewalk and the road.
The pavement was full of rocks and pebbles that had been thrown up by the cresting waves...
it was a walk where I had to look down often so as not to trip.

It felt wonderful to breathe in the salty air and have the sun beam down and warm my face.
There was not even a hint of a breeze...


on the way back home the sun was setting into the sea
another day done.


Earlier in the week 
on one of those ghastly windy days 
I splurged and had a facial.
I have not had a facial for ages and ages...
it was a lovely experience being pampered.

It was my first visit to Sapphire Day Spa.
The lovely young woman who takes good care of my feet in the spring and summer months moved to this spa which is located downtown.
She used a line of organic skincare products called Eminence.
I love the variety of products that are targeted to individual skin care needs.
I purchased a couple of "Starter kits" with smaller sample sizes.
I will be switching over to this new line as the products are remarkably effective.

While I was out buying a few gifts, I found two new bras 
(which I needed)
 Olga and Triumph bras at bargain basement prices.
Then on the way to the check out I zigzagged to the clothing racks...


Black and Blue with a touch of mustard yellow = leopard


This Chaus top is just what I needed to "perk up" my black and grey wardrobe.

I bought some new skinny jeans with a "higher waist" 
Mom Jeans 
(so much more comfortable now that my mid section is wobbly)
The waist is not tight at all, the spandex in the jeans acts as a tummy tamer!


Hope that you are pacing yourself and enjoying the Christmas preparations at a reasonable speed.
Give yourself permission to reduce any unwanted stress...
take away anything that is not necessary.
Christmas will still happen and everything does not need to be "picture perfect."
Please do not exhaust yourself...stay calm.
Be realistic and choose to celebrate traditions that are most important to you and your family.
Ask for help, delegate some of the jobs or cross them off your list!

"Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy and rewarding life."

~ Marilu Henner ~