Thursday, January 7, 2021

Tea time, a french chic book and a drug store purchase...


Afternoon Tea in The Humble Bungalow

Canterbury pattern cup and saucer 
one of several patterns of tea cups that I use for my afternoon tea ritual.
I am on the lookout for a spectacular ornately decorated floral cup and saucer.


Reading an inspirational French themed book by Tish Jett
I read and enjoyed her first book Forever Chic.


A lovely tea from our local Tea Merchant Murchies
Paris Afternoon is sweet and tastes like a decadent dessert.


My last mascara was gloppy and had not performed that well.
Frustrated, 
but on a mission
 off I went to the local pharmacy to buy a new mascara.
Always one to seek advice from the knowledgeable gals in the cosmetics department 
I asked the clerk what she uses and could recommend.

Marcelle was her hands down winning performer.


 She handed me the gift pack that included a Kohl eye pencil.
This pencil is SO soft and easily lines the eye without tugging or pulling.
It is rather like Velvet Gel.

So now I am regularly defining my eyes with Kohl 
and they are the focus when wearing my mask.

New Year Goal

walk a minimum of 4 km each and every day

I've downloaded the Walk Meter App which is free and helps me track my distance.
The IPhone tracking is not that accurate but it does record the individual steps.
So I am using both to keep tabs on my progress.


Do you have any New Year resolutions or goals?


My winter accessories
consist of 
a cashmere scarf and a vintage Coach bag.

Do you switch out your handbag often?
I am a creature of habit and frequently use one for years...

I  have other bags.

A straw bag for summer
a vintage wine coloured quilted bag
a travel bag
a small vintage black Coach bag for evening.


Hope that you are staying safe.

Our provincial doctor has just extended our Covid restrictions until February.
Our numbers of new cases continue to go up...
hundreds are in hospital with many in critical care.

I'm going to have to get creative to help pass the time.
Another month of not seeing my grandchildren and family is going to be difficult.

I walk with a friend each week but we stay a safe distance from each other.

How are you coping?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

17 comments:

Patricia said...

I am so sorry your area has escalating cases. When will it all end? We are going into 3 day lockdown, but have been let off very lightly here in Australia. I have Forever Chic and read it now and then, but did not know about the new book. I'll get it asap! My goal has been 5km per day, counted on the iPhone. It became obvious I was never going to maintain anything like 10km so decided to work with 5, and try harder to make it daily. Your vintage Coach bag is lovely - I also use one bag for years at a time, but am currently on the lookout for something new. Perhaps Coach for me? Take care and Happy New Year.

Lorrie said...

I'm so sad that the restrictions were extended. I want to cuddle that newborn baby across town - she's a month old now. Still, we will do our part to stay safe and make sure that others are safe, as well.
I use that Marcelle mascara regularly, and it was recommended to me by the cosmetician at the drug store, too.
Enjoy your walks. I try to do 10,000 steps per day and have been doing well lately, in spite of the rain.
Enjoy your weekend.

Madame La-Bas said...

I'm working for 5k 4 times a week. I just finished the Vera book and I'm reading a book called The Midnight Library. I'll try that Marcelle mascara because I find mascara is often lumpy. My eyes seem to be quite sensitive to wind so they often water if I wear eyeliner without sunglasses. I found my first snowdrop in bloom so we are coming out of the dark winter days.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I don't think we will see a reduction in numbers until Spring or maybe even summer. People are not all following the advice of the provincial health doctor. The book is from 2017...I just found a copy locally and decided that I needed to read it since I cannot go to France. The IPhone does not accurately record the km's...I would suggest that you get the free walk meter app. You turn it in when you start walking and stop it when you are done. It also records the calories that you have burned.
Coach make lovely bags...have fun shopping.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I understand your frustration, I want to see our grandchildren too!
I have had some days of over 10,000 steps but most of these rainy and windy days I have only managed 8,500 steps. I don;t carry my phone in the house much so I maybe should...ever since the battery died on my Fitbit I have been relying on the phone. I don't want to buy another fitbit because they are a throwaway item once the battery dies! Take care Lorrie and hope that you can see that grandbaby soon!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

It's good to have a fitness goal. I think you will be pleased with the mascara...this is the first time that I have been totally happy with a mascara, plus it is good for sensitive eyes. I wear my prescription glasses or prescription sunglasses when I walk. The wind can be so gusty along the waterfront. Snowdrops are blooming here too as are many of the primulas...a harbinger of Spring!
I have heard great things about that Midnight Library so I hope it lives up to the reviews. Enjoy your weekend Madame

Jeannine said...

I'm impressed with everyone's walking goals. I do not have such a specific target. Good for you all. You'd asked in reply to my comment on your previous post if I was retiring soon. Either one more school year or two more school years. So I'm looking at a year and a half or more yet. I'm sure it will move right along, although right now it can't come soon enough (and again, I like my job and my boss). I was working on something yesterday and had to project out to 2024, which made me think "huh, I'll be done by then, for sure!". I have to ask about mascara as I no longer wear it and haven't for a few years. I can't see well enough to apply it (can't wear your glasses while you're trying to put on mascara! How do you do it?

Kristien62 said...

We,too, have accelerating COVID cases and can’t see our grands. I have a 5 month old grandson whom I have not seen since Sept and he is growing so quickly. I’m sad to be missing this time with him.

I don’t mind the isolation aside from not seeing family. It’s freezing here and I’m happy to have an excuse not to go out. Groceries and sundries are delivered so we don’t lack for much. But I dearly miss the library.

Polly said...

I have just finished a packet of Darjeeling tea I bought in India over 10 years ago!! I forgot I had it, it was very well packed and tasted fine. I'm drinking Earl Grey at the moment which I don't like as much. I like the sound of Paris Afternoon, I think we all need a bit of decadence at the moment. I walk my dog every morning (except when it's raining), which is good for my daily steps, and when the weather is dry and sunny I meet up with a friend at a nearby park, we enjoy a walk around the lovely gardens and finish with hot drinks sitting on a bench. We miss our day trips out with a local coach company. I have winter and summer handbags.

Adele said...

You have inspired me to use the lovely china tea cups we inherited from my mother in law on a more regular basis. Usually I use mugs, which do hold more tea, because we don't have a teapot anymore to keep the water hot enough for extra pours.

I too have struggled to find a mascara I like, and which doesn't irritate. Blinc makes a nice one, but I found something comparable at the drug store which I like even more: L'Oreal Double Extend. One side is a primer, the other mascara. No smudging, no stinging and it creates little tubes around your lashes, which wash off easily with cleanser and water.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Hopefully you can see your grandson via FaceTime or Zoom...its sad that we are missing out. Our library is lending books but it is done safely online. Pick up is in person but they have redesigned the space for safety and only a couple of people are allowed in at a time.
Take care and stay safe.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Polly you might enjoy the Paris tea, I like Earl Grey too and have had a fling a few years ago with Lapsang Souchon a very smokey tasting tea. I could send you a few tea bags to try if you like.
Send me an email with your address and I will pop some in the post.
Take care

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh I am pleased to hear that you have some lovely teacups! They will make your afternoon tea feel so much more of an event...the red teapot that you see in the photos on my blog is relatively new...my other teapot is too big for just me so I can get 2 or 3 cups from one teabag. You may even find a pretty vintage one in a charity shop if you are able to go shopping.
That L'Oreal mascara sounds very unique...glad to hear that you find it works for you.

La Contessa said...

I'm starting to LOSE IT.......MEMORY etc...........
I've had more medical news.Not the most uplifting but will deal with it!
I think I need people stimulation more than anything!
I am staying at home doing as required..........what is this month TEN?
I do not see anything back to normal for another YEAR!
IF ALL GOES WELL..........and goodness the CAPITOL NEWS HAS HAD ITS EFFECTS ON ME!HANGING in THERE........XXX
Ps. I am allergic to eye pencil!!!LOVE IT ON THE EYE!

Michelle said...

I'll have to give that mascara a try. I use other Marcelle products and really like them, plus the fact that they are a Canadian company. I'm always a little reluctant to try a new mascara for some reason, but the drugstore didn't have the L'Oreal one I normally buy, so I chose another L'Oreal, but I don't like it as much.

I also tend to be a 'one purse per season' type. I have a leather purse from the Bay, which I bought ages ago that I use in fall/winter, then I switch to a straw bag in summer. Last year I bought a more expensive kate spade bag but I just find it so heavy that it ends up in the closet, and the old faithful hauled out. A little beat up, but still presentable.

For walking, I aim for 7500 steps on fitbit, but don't always meet the goal, especially on rainy days.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I read your recent blog post and left a comment. My goodness you have a lot on your plate Elizabeth and I hope that you get some answers soon. The US News about the Capital riots was astounding...
We are hoping to be vaccinated by September and are eager to get back being more social...I miss the interactions, lunches, dinners and coffee out with friends.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

The Marcelle mascara is very gentle on the eyes and it coats well.
I used to carry heavier handbags until my first episode with a frozen shoulder and the surgeon I saw said get rid of the heavy bags! I use shoe polish to keep my handbags in decent shape...there are a few scuffs that are not going away but generally the bags look ok. I just returned from a walk in the rain...it was refreshing but just as I was about to be home the sun came out...my timing could have been better!