New Years Eve and Hostess holiday style and a giveaway!

It is New Years Eve!

We are planning a quiet dinner here in The Humble Bungalow.

I have a few resolutions in my back pocket

and 

am reflecting on all the good things in life 

sadly it was

a year fraught with so many unsettling events on the world stage.

It is my hope that we strive to be better

become more forgiving 

respectful of the differences 

that we share

 while living (hopefully) harmoniously on this planet.

The festive season is almost over and it has been a busy holiday.

I wore mostly black...

it is a matter of frugality 

and 

my conservative nature...

however

even at my age

(almost 62)

 I do like to kick it up a notch.

Mesh tights feel a bit more edgy than sheer hose

short boots feel hipper than pumps

an armful of bangles seems like more fun than a watch...

they are shiny silver and make a bit of noise!

The black slim skirt is a basic style which sits just above the knee...

it is a "work horse" in my closet.

This new skirt is a recent purchase

 made in Canada in a knit and it is lined.

I wore my vintage mink jacket out to dinner on icy Christmas Day.

(Mr. HB is not a fan of fur and I DO have reservations wearing fur)

I posted this on Instagram and many commented on the fact that it is vintage fur and 

I should wear it without guilt.

I wore my St. John black top with a bit of sparkle

black skirt

mesh tights

Chelsea boots

grey pearl drops and diamond studs.

(Thank you to Mr. HB for taking the photos.)

My sister cooked us a fabulous dinner...

tenderloin steaks and assorted veggies.

Truffles and yogurt for dessert.

Mother loved the quiet and smooth drive in our new car.

Our kids came to us this year on Boxing Day and we enjoyed their visit.

I have been eating too much and I know I need to get on top of this situation.

(I will)

Blinders are firmly affixed as I am avoiding the scale.

(until 2017)

My jeans are feeling snug 

(which us never a good sign)

 and 

already exploring local fitness program schedules

 curious about  the new Weight Watchers program 

Beyond The Scale...

I saw an advert on telly with Oprah...

she has lost over 40 pounds.

I think I heard that she owns WW

anyone out there know if this is true?

Chester my trusty assistant 

is trying to squeeze in and get some attention as I type.

He tries to do this when I am my knitting and reading too.

Started reading this book after Christmas...

I am only into it a few chapters so I cannot really comment yet but the story on the jacket cover sounded entertaining.

I'll be posting with the knitted oven mitt pattern, I have not forgotten.

New Years resolutions:

Thinking about a weight loss challenge

 continued thoughts on living a beautiful, relaxed and simple life.

A New Years giveaway...

this lovely Kennedy Watson book

could be yours

just leave me a comment and we will randomly choose a name.

Leave your comment before January 4th at midnight PST.

Watch for the draw and then email me with your mailing address if your name is the one chosen.

Good Luck

Happy New Year!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Adding a wee bit of polish to my days...

The New Year is here and with it comes the opportunity to make some changes.
What changes might those be?
For starters,
getting back on the Weight Watchers Point Program with continued walks is my top priority.
Over the holidays too many sweets and treats have been savoured and despite the walks I am up a few pounds...it is not the end of the world but I do not want to let it get out of control.
I feel better when my clothes have a little bit of "breathing room!"

But I digress...
this post was titled adding a bit of polish.

 My hands and nails have never been given much thought...
I am a no nonsense kind of gal...and have thought of my hands as tools in the domestic arena.

As a result of neglect and my haphazard way of wearing gloves when I wash dishes and clean house
I have had to invest heavily in hand creams and slather them on throughout the day.
(L'Occitane Shea Butter... and I buy the small size to keep in my handbag and the car)

I have been inspired to make a wee change...
at least for now
while the New Year is fresh and new.
(will see how long it lasts!)

For now I am enjoying taking extra care of my hands and my nails.
My gloves are handy right beside the sink
as a reminder to put them on when I am immersed in domestics, which I am on a daily basis.

Purple Playtex Living Gloves

endorsed by This Hostess.

Workhorses in The Humble Bungalow

Base coat, polish and a top coat are applied so that they last longer and resist chipping.

This OPI shade is called Chocolate Moose...

I love how they choose creative names for their polish.

 I think this is a neutral versatile colour.

Looking for some pretty pink shades in the OPI,  Essie or Butter lines to add to my collection.

Perhaps something soft...and light, maybe in a blush pink.

or a deeper fuchsia like this Camellia.

Blues and greens and blacks are popular 

I am not sure that they are suitable for my 60 year old hands...

 though they are fine on my toes in the summer months.

Speaking of trying new things...

Cheryl, my friend from France, taught me how to make duck confit.

We browned the duck legs in a hot Le Creuset pan and then heated them in the oven.

We de-glazed the pan with a bit of Sancerre and added about a half cup of marmalade and let it simmer and reduced it until it was thick.

The wee potatoes were roasted in a bit of the duck fat in a hot oven until they were golden and softened.

The green beans were steamed until they were almost tender...

(I like a bit of resistance when I bite into a green bean)

~ Dessert ~

tasty lemon tarts from the bakery.

You can see why I am up a few pounds as we enjoyed many rich meals 

while our house guests were here in The Humble Bungalow.

So it is salad daze and healthy eating for the foreseeable future.

If you are looking for some inspiration and a fresh way of starting your New Year

Janet at The Gardener's Cottage has a week of healthy menus posted on her blog.

Chat soon

until next time...

~ Be Kind and Take Care ~

Turning a page.....

New Years is a fresh start...
just by simply turning a page in my day timer it is 2016
blank and waiting...

You might be surprised in this day and age of IPhones and computers that I still use a day timer...
Mother gives me a new one every Christmas just like my Father did.
There is hope and newness in those blank pages...
waiting for a year of scribbled appointments, dates, lunches, dinners
opportunities offering new experiences.

Growth

both personal 

and in the garden.

await...

A brave little pink rhododendron blooming in the frosty cold of January.

Putting a cheery face forward despite the weather.

Icy patches on my walking route 

hazards that have not yet been melted by the sun...

slippery 

I must be mindful with my steps.

Sunlight warms 

the icy breeze...

that chills my face and hands.

The familiar route beckons...

the seafront and the cemetery.

there is a curve in the road up ahead

where will it lead?

It is so quiet

not even my footsteps make a noise.

Until stepping off the beaten path...

Frozen grassy patches offer resistance and crunch beneath my feet.

A mossy mosaic on a grave

reminds me of the intricate pieces of a puzzle.

Life can be complicated

there are surprises 

both good and bad.

Weathered patterns on stone...

keep your eyes open.

You do not want to miss anything!

Walk in peace

contemplate

and 

consider 

the possibilities that lay ahead 

as the year presents itself fresh and new.

What will the New Year bring?

As the sun sets on a cold New Years Day

I wonder and am in awe of Mother Nature and all her magical moments.

Looking forward

but no too far

what will 2016 bring besides blank pages?

Thank you for stopping by my humble blog...

Hostess

A New Year and a fresh start...

I am not given to make New Years resolutions
but do try to visualize the beginning of the year with fresh eyes and optimism.
Anything is possible!

Life will unfold as it will, as it usually does.
One can never predict what might be, where one may go, what challenges we might face.
We can only control how we react...

Embracing and holding close ~ family and friends.
Good friends are gifts and ones worth tending...
family members need unconditional love and support
(must keep in check my tendency to smother!)

Remember to keep my spirits up and to keep moving, however slow or fast.
Feeding my soul as well as my body.

Finding a time for quiet reflection
an outlet for stress
something of beauty to behold
something meaningful to do
and someone to love.

waterfront walks

go a long way to keeping me focused and fit

living in a neighbourhood

belonging to a group

doing something for others

home keeping

gardening

cocooning in a cozy space

finding joy in the everyday routines

~ it's the little things ~

flowers

accents from nature

whimsy

a juxtaposition 

the unexpected that catch my eye

and hold me close like a whisper

~ ~ ~

pushing the envelope

stretching

taking life less seriously

not conforming

reinventing

taking risks

dressing up for the day 

when staying at home doing domestics

and no one sees me but the cats!

indulging in a little luxury

a scented soap

a hot bath

emollient creams

cashmere sweaters and socks

a soft scarf

designer fragrance

exploring a new shop

tickling ones taste buds

(salad dressing never tasted so good!)

~Adopting an attitude of gratitude~

"it's not the grandeur

it's the simple

that keep me grounded"

Hostess

I'm looking ahead to the New Year

with a spring in my step and hope in my heart.

Your thoughts are most welcome

I hope you'll share some of them with me.

~ ~ ~

"I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. 

I do not judge the universe."

Dalai Lama 

OOTD New Years Eve...

For those of you who like to see OOTD posts
I apologize because I have been remiss.
Perhaps because my mirror has been out of commission due to construction below decks.
Rather more likely that I have ballooned in girth and am feeling more than a tad bit stodgy!

Personal feelings aside I'll share with you...

Club Monaco earrings

Chanel Rouge Allure 

#517 Triomphal

 OPI 

Peru~B~Ruby

vintage 

eel skin bag

dress by Nygaard

in it's 4th or 5th season of wear

we enjoyed a lovely evening

a martini before dinner

then off to a seafood restaurant for some delicious fare

a glass of Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc from NZ

~ ~ ~

Oysters Rockefeller to start

crab stuffed Sooke trout with potatoes dauphinoise

beets with kale

followed by decaf coffee

Mr.HB had Oysters Rockefeller

followed by a large lobster thermidor 

~ ~ ~

home before midnight

New Years Resolutions are very much on my mind

 organizing the Bungalow linens

walking more

reducing stress

are 

very much on my radar

~ ~ ~

How about you dear reader

have you made any resolutions?

It's going to be a quiet New Years day here in The Humble Bungalow

 Mr.HB and I have come down with colds...

I wonder how long this nail varnish will last...

I rarely paint my nails as my hands take such a beating in the garden and doing dishes.

The Glove can only do so much!

"Every man should be born again on the first day of January.  

Start with a fresh page.  

Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, 

or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past."

~  

~Henry Ward Beecher~

New Years Dinner, New Years Day, birds, rainbows and de-decorating the tree, before reading my novel!

To ring in the New Year we enjoyed a delicious dinner and evening with very dear friends.

On the menu:
Cocktails - Gin and tonic for the ladies and single malt Scotch for the gentlemen
French Brie, English carmelized onion cheddar cheese, Rustic crackers, pickled onions, dried apricots, and tapenaude.
Feta cubes, basil leaves, grape tomatoes stacked on a toothpick with balsamic reduction dip.

Sandhill Sauvignon Blanc
Lobster bisque
Whole Dungeness Crab drawn butter
Caesar Salad with artisan bread

Frozen Lemon Mousse with blueberry coulis

This morning I awoke to rain pitter pattering on the roof and by the time I got out of bed to put on the coffee there was a beautiful rainbow!
The hummingbirds and the bush tits are jockeying for position at the hummingbird feeder and the house sparrows are chattering noisily on the arbor. The suet feeder is getting attacked by the starlings and there is quite the roar outside. No sign of the resident Great Blue Heron, he comes and goes and I am never sure when I'll catch a glimpse of him.

I am snug and cozy in my bungalow kitchen wrapped in my robe, coffee in hand, slowly starting to greet the day. I plan to de-decorate the Christmas tree and put away the festive bits and bobs. I am thinking of taking a walk later and making time to read my new book Wild Mary, the biography of Mary Wesley's life.
 Mon Avis, Mes Amis. wrote about Mary Wesley on her blog and it sparked my interest.
What are you reading? Any book recommendations?