Jeans...OOTD

If we are talking about our favourite clothes
and we are today
I have a confession...

My all time favourite OOTD to wear is a white Tee or shirt and pair of great fitting jeans.
They can be worn with diamonds, gold or pearls...
a Hermes silk scarf, a pashmina, a thrifted woolen wrap,
they can be worn with heels, ballet flats, boots or flip flops...
a Chanel tweed, a leather Moto jacket or a soft well worn hoodie.

If I only could choose one outfit for the rest of my days.....
jeans would figure prominently in the equation.

It might sound silly coming from a grown woman who is just a few weeks away from 60
I am here to confess that  "I DO LOVE JEANS!"

I've worn jeans for decades and think I always will...
they are on my "desert island list"
after sunscreen, moisturizer, mascara and lip balm.

My tatty 2 year old g21 skinny jeans have worn out their welcome,
but it's not surprising with so many wearings and washings....
so they have been donated to the charity shop.
At $10, the cost per wearing must be less than 5 cents by now.

I've seen and heard of NYDJ jeans but have never actually tried a pair on until recently...
they are available in Petite which is wonderful because I really hate shortening jeans.
I didn't go looking for them, they rather fell off the hanger as I was perusing the racks at The Hudson's Bay store.
A woman of a certain age mentioned that she had several pairs of NYDJ and thought they made the best of a "woman's assets" Hmmm...
I thought I'd give them a try...

I'm not sure if I should be raving publicly about these jeans

(they may fall into that shadowy category referred to as "Mom jeans!")

Are the Fashion Police on duty?

I do like how they fit...

(I am a Mother and a Grand Mother)

A great fitting pair of jeans can take you most places...

not the red carpet, a funeral or a wedding

not in my crowd

BUT

they are on my "desert island list." 

I have worn jeans since I was a teenager

plan to wear them forever

they have no expiration date...

and are so versatile in how you can style them.

I have put together a few jean OOTD options.

Vintage beaded wool sweater ~ Pelican Cove

jeans ~ NYDJ

gumball pearls which IMO

compliment and elevate a simple Tee and jeans

Tank top ~ Lands' End

beaded cardigan ~ Spanner

pearls

jeans ~ NYDJ

tank top ~ Lands' End

cashmere cardigan ~ Lands' End

jeans ~ NYDJ

remember to have fun and be creative with accessories

think of yourself as a painter and take risks

put you own personal stamp on things

Why Not?

black top ~ Jeanne Beker

jeans ~ NYDJ

shoes ~ Amalfi

I love these shoes...they make me feel so happy when I wear them.

Tweed jacket ~ Jeremy Spenser

jeans ~ NYDJ

shoes ~ Stuart Weitzman

love the bows on the toes...

this vintage baroque pearl pin is a perfect pairing with the jacket

(thank you darling daughter I adore this gift and wear it often)

I'm feeling the Paris vibe with this OOTD

striped top ~ Gap

jeans ~ NYDJ

ballet flats ~ Lands' End

sterling stack of bangles...

Tiffany and Co.

mingle with artisan designed silver bracelets

I've had fun putting these together and I have oodles more options in my closet...

Do you wear jeans?

What brand of jeans are your favourite?

BTW 

if you like to watch British dramas...

Mr. HB and I have just finished watching Last Tango in Halifax 

 and now are binge watching Happy Valley on Netflix...

Sally Wainright writes entertaining and engaging TV.

Downton Abbey is not the only show in town.

Take care

XO

Selling stuff, rainy days and sending flowers to those who need cheer...

Over the years I've been a tad greedy and a wee bit manic buying and amassing collectibles...
since retiring I have re-evaluated my focus.
It's gone from "more is better" to "less is more better!"

Please excuse the bad grammar.
I phrased it this way because I overheard a young man ask his father....
"Dad did you know that Spiderman is more stronger than Superman?"

It is very therapeutic cleaning out the clutter, washing and tidying up cupboards and drawers...
rearranging the storage space and rediscovering what treasures we own are not currently being used in our home.
The question is do we keep it or get rid of it?

Lovely daughter and I have rented a shelf in a case at the local antique mall on Fort Street.

Vanity Fair

We are selling jewelry, silverware, mid century modern teak, and art glass.

I have a few gorgeous china cups and saucers that I am going to take in soon.

Someone commented recently that silver was on it's way out...

I love silver and keep ours polished...many prefer it tarnished for the Shabby Chic look.

If it is on the way out it is a great time to invest in a few pieces as the prices will be low...

This clay raven plaque has a First Nations feel to it...

it is rather naive and simple but that's what drew me to it.

It is an unusal piece and most probably unique.

Our local village shop Surroundings stocks a mix of old and new.

I cannot pass by without stopping in to see the owner.

She carries such wonderful things...

I try not to "get carried away" when I peruse her shop.

It was a blustery wet and rainy day...

one for gumboots and a brolly.

I popped into visit Kristiane after I walked through the muddy puddles of Beacon Hill Park.

I've known K for years and have bought quite a few things from her shop.

We always chat and exchange pleasantries when we see each other...

she's a lovely woman.

Spring is coming early to the Pacific Northwest...

we've had a very mild winter and unless we get a dump of snow the gardens will be a riot of colour very soon.

As an antidote to the gloomy grey skies I bought a cheap and cheerful primula...

I could have bought a carload but I am trying to be sensible and save money for Euros.

I browsed the flower market...

and thought that the cats would love to munch on these tulips!

Mr. HB and I have sent several beautiful bouquets and a lovely orchid from Thorn and Thistle to friends and family who have been ill or hospitalized after major surgery.

In times like these my way of helping is to send cards, flowers and take food.

I hope that you are enjoying better weather and that you are in the best of health.

"If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want."

  

~ Elbert Hubbard ~

Prints Charming...

Prints and patterns do not factor into my core wardrobe in a very big way...
stripes yes,
but prints are rare.

Hermes scarves are where the prints come into play.

Did you know that Hermes recommend that you refrain from wearing their silk scarves in the rain?
These Hermes scarves are just a few from my collection of scarves...
I love scarves for their ability to add colour and flair to the plain and simple garments that I own.

Seeing as how we are talking about charming prints I'd like to show you my most recent purchase...
fasten your seatbelts...they are kind of wild!

I found a pair of what I can only describe as "party pants" with soft orange roses on a black background.
You might be laughing...as they are rather a departure from my usual restrained and conservative clothes.
They have an elastic band at the waist and at the bottom of the pants they are gathered in, rather like harem pants!
They are made of a very light polyester and will roll easily in the carry on and the big bonus is that they will not crease...I bought them at Target at their closing out sale for $15.00.

I plan to take these to Paris and will wear them as PJ bottoms when I am in the city of light and when I travel south I will have the option of wearing them as pants.

I've planned to get a spa pedicure before I leave and will opt for an orange or coral polish.

 Lands' End coral cashmere cardigan and simple pearls...

A basic black tank top and the cardigan will make great partners.

The colours are such a tonic right now...our weather has been so gloomy and wet.

I took this picture a year or so ago...

Heart shaped puddle.

Summer Humble Bungalow rose...Jacob's Coat.

Chihuly Gardens in Seattle Washington

love the punch of orange!

I've been busy in the kitchen making pots of soups. 

I love having a big pot of something hot and nutritious simmering on the stove.

Dinner is easy when it's a hearty soup and then there are leftovers for lunches 

and you can pop some in the freezer for future use.

They are wonderful to share...

I have taken some to the home of a friend who is going through a tough time.

Soups are comforting...

like a warm hug.

I enjoy the simple act of chopping the vegetables.

The repetition feels very therapeutic....

rather meditative and a perfect rainy day activity.

Rainy walks are much nicer when one has a cheerful umbrella.

I love this shade of green.

Beware! Death Cap mushrooms.

 Patterns on the grey concrete stairs that go down to the beach...

When I get home there will be a soup simmering on the stove

Lemon Chicken with Orzo.

Humble Bungalow greetings to you all from the very wet west coast...

Hope that you have a lovely weekend!

The Great Cover Up...

Today I'm sharing some things I have learned...and think are worth sharing...
skincare maintenance is way up on my list of personal priorities.
I want to put my "best face forward."
Mother told me early on when I was in my teens..."make the best of what you've been given."

Establishing a daily routine of cleansing, moisturizing and never going to bed with make up on should go a long way to help your skin look and feel great. 

I learned this lesson in charm school at The Hudson's Bay when I was 13 years old. Our instructor Irene Warren, took it very seriously and passed on her knowledge to a room full of impressionable young women.

(we also learned how to walk, sit properly, and get in and out of a car wearing a mini skirt!)

It felt like we were "ladies-in-training" ....my BFF and I went for several sessions and we did have fun!

Establishing a daily routine of cleansing, moisturizing and never going to bed with make up on should go a long way to help your skin look and feel great.
Gentle weekly exfoliation and the occasional facial mask will help keep your skin look healthy.
(don't forget to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water...nature's moisturizer)
Keep it simple...
it's my mantra, keep it simple.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you may remember that I have a skin condition called rosacea...
facial flushing with red patches on the cheeks indicate a flare up.
Many factors can affect the skin and cause a reaction.

I avoid the sun whenever possible by wearing sunglasses and a hat.
Rosacea can affect the eyes and they become quite irritated and bloodshot.

Red wine and spicy foods may also exacerbate the skin..
products with harsh chemicals like alcohol are too strong.
I use gentle products from the Avene line and wear sunscreen everyday.

Let me introduce you to a fabulous mineral make up by La Bella Donna which offers great coverage.
I've been using this daily and it has an SPF of 20, it offers great coverage without looking too powdery.
I use the shade Crema as I am quite fair...it comes in a variety of shades so you should find one that suits your colouring.

You don't need a lot of powder as it blends effortlessly and it can be layered on several times if you need extra coverage. You will need to invest in a good quality brush and wash the brush every so often to keep it clean.

I love this pur mineral eye make up.

It goes on smoothly and stays on from morning until I take it off at night.

This shade is Lavender Mourite.

I use an eyelash curler and Maybelline mascara and if I go out in the evening I'll line my eyes with kohl.

Lipstick for daytime is a quick sweep with Revlon's Lip Butter in Pink Truffle 

and for evening Red Velvet.

L'Occitane's Almond Milk is a light emollient body lotion.

Soft scent and super moisturizing after my morning shower.

I love to wear scent and wear a slightly musky fragrance in the winter...

Mitsouko.

In the spring and summer I wear Voyage d' Hermes.

Speaking of Spring...

"Springtime in Paris"

three little words.

Wishing, Hoping, Dreaming...

Spring feels like it is just around the corner...

Are you loyal to a product?

Care to share or rave about it's performance?

Do you have any skincare tips to share?

I'm off to meet with the travel agent tomorrow...

!!!!!