The domestics just got more glamourous!

Domestics in this old bungalow are never done.
Which makes it often difficult to sit and relax
particularly when I spy
dust bunnies and cat hair gathering on the dark wood flooring...
If it were a dull grey day I would not notice but they are
illuminated by the warm afternoon sunshine...

Our cleaning gal has been on leave and I am not keeping up her standards.
I now see dirt where I have never seen it before.
I had no idea that we were so messy and I consider myself organized...

I honestly do miss her weekly visits.
The good news is that she is coming back very soon!

I decided that I needed to do a more thorough job 

that meant buying some newer 

fresher and better tools...

 Oh! look at the lover-ly prep inspired label 

 Boston Warehouse has glamourous products

the gloves have polka dot frilly edging

prints and flowers 

in a rainbow of colour

I could have bought the entire stock of gizmos

and revamped my dull utilitarian cleaning cupboard

it could stand to be made over!

Broom in black and white!

(Pepper approves)

She "helps me" sweep...

which takes much longer

I do appreciate her "being on the job"

I replaced my worn out scrubber

with this new one

it's in a happy lime green colour.

Let's dress up domestics a bit!

I wonder what Elizabeth Taylor would say about these...

do you think she ever pushed a vacuum

or 

scrubbed pots?

Remember to wear your gloves when doing heavy work

your hands will thank you for the protection.

Speaking of protection...

 it's a good time to discuss SPF

we need to save our skin from the sun's harmful rays

 chemicals cannot be good 

baked by the intense heat of the sun

so it is a safe solution 

that I seek...

and have found

Organic Mineral Sunscreen

SPF 30

recommended by a girlfriend

whose

 complexion is looking radiant these days

I think this might be part of her secret!

Break time is over...

I am off to massage the tub with a micro fiber cloth...

Hermes, tying one on in a variety of ways, or distracted on a domestics day.

It's a day of domestics here in the Humble Bungalow, yes they do exist, it is not all shopping, partying and playing....sheets need to be laundered and clothes need to be washed.

I am wearing my grey matchy matchy capri's and jacket here to attack the chores and get a bit of a work out at the same time....running around the bungalow in barefeet multi-tasking and getting distracted.

Time out for a late breakfast, cottage cheese and cantalope, and a sidetrip to the blogosphere.

I spy with my little eye....a stack of orange boxes....

Hermes, 

what a lovely distraction!

(One cannot stare at the washer as it turns around and around or one would become dizzy.)

OK playtime...just for a few minutes.

Humour me here!

Hermes a study in black and white, probably my most worn scarf so far...CPW = pennies.

Simple square knot, it doesn't get much easier than this.

I always think of a cowboy scarf when I wear it on the side, giddy up!

 Tuck this under a coat or jacket, a pop of color and pattern that elevate and add interest.

Silky and soft it folds so easily,

it drapes with little effort,

it can be twisted and folded into a variety of shapes and looks.

Tie one on...and dress up your daily round, you'll be glad you did!

My dedication to domestics is not a passionate one, rather a necessary job which I perform only to be able to stand back and admire such accomplishments and move on to more rewarding and exciting activities...flower arranging, thrifting, shopping, gardening, and hostessing.

Are there any Domestic Diva's out there?

Do they dust with devotion?

Dirt bust with delight?

Domestic Diva's Do Have Help ( I do)

OOTD ~ Sailor Style

I cobbled together a crazy sailor style outfit this morning...
it's a busy day of domestics here in The Humble Bungalow.

I've been doing laundry since about 8:30 am.
Eradicating dirt should appear on the top of my CV!

It's a Blue OOTD all the way down to the toes.

The Tommy Hilfiger watch is waterproof so good for actioning domestics or wearing on the boat.

This might be what Lisa calls "Tomboy Style."

Do you read Lisa's blog?

I do and did you know that I started blogging because of her?

She was super helpful and supportive and she really knows her way around the technical area of computing.

She knows a lot about the WASP way of life which I personally find fascinating...

These comfy GAP capri length sailor pants are so soft.

They must be as old as the hills...

or they've been laundered dozens if not hundreds of times...

well I am given to exaggerate a bit!

The striped top is the one I purchased at COS in The Marais district in Paris this May...

Paris, France I was there just over a month ago.

Here are some images captured from my trip...all themed Blues.

It's Father's Day on Sunday and I'll be remembering my Dad,

honouring my husband, the Father of my children 

and son who is the father of two and soon to be 3.

Hope that you have a lovely weekend.

XO

OOTD domestic style and some good news.

Is there Glamour in the way that you dress to attend to the everyday domestics?

I do not run around in high heeled pink Marabou mules and a kimono over top of a silk chemise...
while that does sound quite luxe it is far from my reality!

OOTD

Domestics Style

The most important piece is my linen apron

Bon Appetit by Now Designs

(it keeps what I am wearing clean)

White Eddie Bauer shirt

Skinny NYDJ

JCREW Venus Flytrap necklace

slippers

I have been washing windows, clearing the clutter and sorting out some junky drawers.

The laundry is swishing away in the LG machines.

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE doing laundry?

Ironing used to be a chore until I started ironing by the window

gazing out to the garden beyond 

where I can see the birds and admire the green grass and the flowers.

Some people iron in front of the TV but I never turn the TV on in the daytime.

I do like a great BBC or PBS series 

or something like Last Tango in Halifax or Happy Valley on Netflix 

but that is about all I watch.

The gorgeous Easter bouquet has been front and centre.

I kept it away from the cats when I was not at home as a reader kindly mentioned that the lilies were toxic to cats.

The stamens in the flowers stain anything that they come in contact with so do use caution.

I found this out many years ago and sadly my tablecloth was a goner.

Quite by accident I happened upon these vibrant autumnal leaves 

still clinging to a vine in the blazing afternoon sunshine.

Walking has taken me out of my neighbourhood

finding myself sauntering along the streets of Oak Bay 

gazing at the well tended yards 

looking for some real life garden inspiration.

We have a few beds that need some interesting plants and pots.

The tulips are putting on quite a show this Spring.

Mass planting of bulbs really do have an impact.

The deer have not eaten these...

and this patch is a block from our Humble Bungalow 

where the deer have munched ours down to the soil!

We were informed at the Garden Centre that Deer do not like Hellebores.

We popped this one in a pot out front and we will see if that is true.

There is some encouraging news...

actually it is really really GOOD NEWS!

The predicted 4-5 month long wait for that ultrasound was been reduced to a 3 month wait...

then I thought about it and wondered

why not ask to be put on the list for a priority appointment and take a cancellation.

I am retired and have a flexible schedule 

plus we live close to the office where they do the tests...

and wonders never cease

they called me!

By the end of the week I will have my test and next week I meet with the specialist.

So we are in the queue and will see what is next.

In the book front I finally finished reading The Luminaries.

It took me ages as it was 822 pages and very detailed and had a convoluted storyline.

And now for something completely different!

The Love Market from our wee library box across the street looked interesting...

It is written by an English born author, Carol Mason who now resides in BC.

The book jacket suggests it is chick lit...

will give it a whirl.

Thank you for stopping by, now I must get back to work.

There are some dishes to wash and the laundry needs to go into the dryer.

Cheerio,

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Domestics and a Luxe Park Avenue Diet...

Humble Bungalow was shrouded in fog this morning
the sound of foghorns is truly eerie and haunting.

Fall is definitely in the air...
and it's rather dull looking outside.
To perk up my daily round
and energize
I put the furnace on,
layered a sweater over my Tee shirt,
a Lands End cozy cashmere cheery red,
dark denim skinny jeans rolled up,
red Miz Mooz flats.
(I haven't found the elusive boots yet)

Domestic days are routine in the Humble Bungalow...
water wooshing through the pipes...
the sounds of the washer and the dryer as they go through their cycles
the contented hum of domesticity.

I've tackled, purged, and arranged the spices,
I've sorted the junk drawer...
(I allow myself to have just one!)
and this drawer is big enough to satisfy my needs.

Domestics day is a great day to make soup
the ritual of chopping is calming
something chock full of veggies simmering on the stove and scenting the kitchen
and while the soup is bubbling there's time to sit and savour a cup of tea.

I recently pulled this book off my bookshelf and am re-reading snippets of it to refresh my memory

 of the mainpoints

and to re-commit to the key strategies.

What attracted me to this book was it's title...

and something I remember hearing... 

"You can never be too rich or too thin"

a quote by The Duchess of Windsor

( I think one can be too thin...but rich? )

The author, Jana Klauer, M.D., writes in her introduction...

"Park Avenue. These two words conjure up images of wealth, privilege, and ease. 

Park Avenue is New York's grandest boulevard"

She shares with the reader a lot of information which is savvy, sensible and smart.

She is an advocate of daily exercise, eating protein, getting enough calcium, conquering food cravings, ridding the diet of ALL processed foods, and drinking 2 -3 quarts of water every day.

It is easy to follow

and

the recipes in the book are luxe, 

I imagine a spa

might serve these tasty dishes!

What books inspire you to lead a healthier lifestyle?

Hope that you are keeping warm, snug and cozy.

Domestics...and a rant!

Domestics are not always fun, but they are rewarding.
Domestic Divas want us to believe that there is such Glamour in Cleaning.
I agree to a point.

Glovely...
she's a cheery yellow "helping hand" in The Humble Bungalow!

Have you tried the Method line of products?

My favourite "partner in grime" is this grapefruit cleanser.

It really makes light work of dirty jobs.

I use more of this all purpose cleaner than any other product.

It smells wonderful too.

I have discovered that the scrub I have been using for years is no longer available in Canada.

I am stumped as to why they would not import it anymore.

It's called Bon Ami and I wrote about it here, 

the one with the little yellow bird on it.

Not wanting a toxic overload I scrubbed my kitchen sink with baking soda.

I really had to work at the stains and I wore my Glovely of course.

It required a LOT of elbow grease.

 I made a paste of it first and let it do some of the work before I scrubbed.

The sink looks much better now.

I contacted the company and they told me I would need to order a minimum of 36 cans and then they would ship to me!

That sounds like a lifetime supply.

I will wait until I go to the US.

That sounds like a great excuse for a holiday...

"Honey I NEED to go to Seattle to buy Bon Ami."

The Bobbi Brown foundation I use is not available in Canada either.

The Bobbi Brown and Nordstrom sites will not ship to Canada so I had to send it to our nephew and he's bringing it up next time he comes for a visit.

Lands' End cashmere cardigans are not shipped to international addresses this Fall!

I am so disappointed because I love their cashmere cardigans.

According to the person I spoke with it is because they have shell buttons.

I thought that we had negotiated free trade...

silly me, I am so naive.

(grumble grumble)

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my pedestrian life here in The Humble Bungalow.

Hostess.

Well Being...

Do you ever feel frazzled?

After last week with chaos of the plumbing problems
I was edgy and feeling overwhelmed.
So I decided to take some "down time" on the weekend for my well being.

Time to slow down,
to stop multi tasking,
take a day or two and have a change of pace and a rest from the regular routine.

Instead of hopping in the shower,  getting dressed and putting on my make up first thing in the morning I sat quietly with my coffee creme
and lazed about wearing my PJ's and robe.

~ Be Well ~

Time to sleep in and indulge in a little downtime
it feels so luxurious...
Giving oneself the permission to take a day off of the domestics is so simple and restorative, yet it is not in my nature, and it could and should be!

My daily walks offer time for peace, quiet and reflection.

Fresh air and exercise are free.

I opt to walk on a scenic route that provides opportunities for me to capture beauty on my IPhone and then I share them on Instagram and here on the blog.

For that I am grateful...

Re-energizing strategies...

"Stop and smell the roses"

 pick a bouquet and arrange them in a vase and enjoy them indoors.

Mariage Freres Paris Tea, 

in a pretty china cup

is the classic elixir that soothes...

an inspiring book that fuels the desire to feather one's surroundings.

Using simple pieces, editing, rearranging collections for a fresh new look.

Finding things in Nature...

using them in the home

pure white feathers

pine and fir cones

beach stones

fern fronds

leaves

shells

I'm embarking on a new project

"fluffing" and "feathering" my hobby room.

I took down my easel and put away my paints as I have not been using them and they take up so much space that I was not taking advantage of the space.

I am collecting a few bits and bobs that I love...

objects that bring me Joy

items that exude

a sense of calm and serenity.

It is a slow process and one not to force or rush.

Listening and looking...

experiencing the feelings a piece can evoke.

This never happens when I am busy or in a hurry.

Slowing down seems to help engage the creative side of my brain.

David Austin's Ballerina rose 

 soft shades of pink and cream 

looks like it could be featured in an issue of Victoria magazine.

I used to buy every issue of Victoria magazine...

Very few magazines have been purchased since I retired...

with the exception of Town and Country and Country Living UK

When I worked in the school I bought oodles of mags and would pour over them while savouring a chocolate bar and sipping tea.

Magazines were an escape from the stresses of work and trying to "do it all."

Home keeping, domestics, parenting, gardening, cooking, shopping etc...

Since retiring I have a looser schedule with fewer demands...

so it should be easy to take a day off here and there,

perhaps by setting unreasonable standards 

or

expecting a lot from myself and others is setting me up for failure.

Is striving for perfection the root of the problem?

See what happens when one has a few days to reflect on things!

I binge watched the newest season of Grace and Frankie On Netflix.

Love that series...

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin

Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen

and a crazy story line come together to make for a very entertaining show.

I had not considered TV viewing as down time 

but if it makes me laugh and I love the characters

and it feels like an indulgence

I consider it 

 "mental snack food!" 

This blog often masquerades as an online journal...

but by now you've probably already figured that out! 

Hope that your week is off to a great start...

thank you for stopping by the Humble Bungalow.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

De-cluttering, domestics and simple joys.

It's a home day...
a day for domestics and general tidying up.

Don't think that makes me want to cry

because I am more than happy when I get stuff put away

and I am able to stand back and see what has been accomplished.

Does this Kleenex box look a bit like a Missoni print to you or is it just me?

Homemade chicken soup is on the burner

I have a few sniffles and swear by this soup

 it's a cure all.

You've heard of those books Chicken Soup for the Soul

well for me it's Chicken Soup for the Bowl.

Bird sculpture made by a local artisan

crafted from rocks and wire.

Can you see the dents on the ledge?

Pepper had a hand in those...

she keeps knocking this bird over and it lands on it's sharp beak and pits a hole each time.

I de-cluttered the filing cabinet 

several years of bills and papers which I shredded

and it took several hours

the shredder overheated once during this operation

but I did have the satisfaction of filling 3 garbage bags,

yes sir, yes sir, 3 bags full!

I cannot tell you how great this makes me feel

procrastination is my downfall

the worst habit one can have when it comes to getting things done!

Can you see the pin?

It blends in quite well on the Windsmoor jacket.

Sherman vintage circa 1950 rhinestone pin in shades for the season.

This pin was a gift a few Christmas's ago.

I used to wear pins every day but now I seem to wear them only on jackets.

I have about 5 or 6 pins and they are all vintage.

I watched a PBS special with Alan Titmarsh and The Prince of Wales on TV

the focus of the program was the garden at Highgrove that the Prince has created over the past 30 years.

It's an amazing garden, 

organic and vast and full of surprises.

The Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury 

has a few cameos where she discusses the early days of the garden

 about the design process involved 

and the planting of the yews.

She has been referred to as "The Grande Dame of Green."

I could not take my eyes of her diamonds and large gum ball pearls.

They were an opera length strand which she had layered with some smaller strands of pearls.

She obviously is a wonderful gardener

superior plantswoman

and 

she most definitely gardens in pearls!

The Garry Oak trees have got me all a flutter

perhaps it's their gnarly branches 

or

autumnal palette.

I can't quite decide...

never mind

what's not to love about an infusion of joy?

bubbles of happiness

percolate

up

from the leaves  ~  to the skies

rays of sun

flicker and flash

the gentle breeze picks up and tosses

a stand of oaks

whose response is to thrum and shiver

sending forth a cascade of leaves

swirling to the ground.

life is really so much richer

when one can harness joy and gratitude in the simple things

Nature weaves it's way into the hearts of the pedestrian and the pedigreed.

As it should do...

keeping us grounded and content.