Update on the weight loss journey and a reunion.

It has been several weeks since I started a health and wellness journal.
Several readers have asked me to elaborate on what I write in it.

The daily habit helps me try and stay accountable
it acts as a motivator...

It is a convenient way to document my thoughts,
to track my Weight Watcher Points and to record my weight.

Its been a busy few days

so writing has been brief and done just before bedtime. 

I like to set the mood before writing by lighting a scented candle

brew a pot of decaf tea

(caffeine later in the day does not contribute to my sleep)

I will sit in the quiet and reflect upon my day.

Here is an excerpt from the journal when I started...

A few snippets

my weight

the meals.

I often add any food temptations

 how I coped or did not cope with them.

The exercise that I did that day.

Thoughts of gratitude, things that made me smile, quotes that inspire...

the journal is very personal and I am free to write a rant if I so desire.

When I write first thing in the morning 

I often write my goals for that particular day.

If I start my day with a positive theme it continues throughout the day.

It also helps me to exercise if I put my fitness gear on right after my shower.

This is a signal for me to get that out of the way before commencing with the rest of my day.

Exercise is on the agenda and I am not going to change into my dressy clothes

until I go for my walk or do my kettle bell workout.

Fruit makes up the bulk of my snacks and is the basis for any dessert.

I track my WW points with the handy counter.

If you are keen to change or influence your health and wellness

I firmly believe that a journal can help.

The support that you get at WW meetings is incredibly helpful 

if you are struggling with your weight I would not hesitate to recommend WW.

My weight is not moving very much and I admit that I am feeling frustrated...

I may be signing up for WW again but plan to up my exercise first.

I try not to obsess about a few extra pounds

 but I do feel much better, 

have more energy 

and like how my clothes fit when I am lighter.

A reader emailed me about a gym in Oak Bay that offers classes for 55 and older 

they have exercise machines and a punch card is available for a modest cost 

so I have made an appointment and will see if it is something that I would enjoy.

A bunch of former alumni got together for a reunion at the home of one of the teachers.

There was a great turn out and it was lovely seeing so many of the staff.

We all worked together at a local community school and it had been quite a few years since we had everyone gathered together.

So much history, so many shared experiences and oodles of memories.

The animated chatter and laughter filled the afternoon to the brim.

XO

How was your weekend?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Ups and downs in The Humble Bungalow

Downstairs 

in The Humble Bungalow

in the laundry room is

where I spend a lot of my time.

Washing

hanging clothes to air dry

 heavy duty things go into the dryer

folding and ironing

all jobs that I do almost every day.

I run UP and DOWN the stairs many times in a day.

The bathroom downstairs is compact

 it has a shower, toilet and sink.

It is very handy when we work outside in the garden and need to come inside

even more convenient 

when we have house guests.

Did I mention that I run up and down the stairs many times a day?

It feels like I get a lot of exercise actioning the domestic chores but not enough to keep the pesky pounds at bay.

My new fitness regime with kettle bells is also done downstairs

in the laundry room as there is ample room to move about.

The space is bright and the cats like to sit and watch me go through my paces!

Today

I am wearing casual clothes.

OOTD

NYDJ boyfriend style jeans

Town Shoes quilted black leather flats

a simple short Joe Fresh charcoal grey T shirt

Upstairs and downstairs we have shelves for our fluffy white towels.

I am partial to white towels.

Are you?

Storage in The Humble Bungalow is abysmal 

it is minimal as our arts and crafts era home has very little space.

Our closet is tiny and so naturally my wardrobe is small.

That is actually a positive rather than a negative.

I do not like having too much stuff.

I like to see all my clothing choices which makes getting dressed so much easier.

BTW while we are on the topic of clothes...

you responses to the last post were interesting and informative.

I appreciate the time and energy that you put into your comments.

Upstairs 

the kitchen is the hub of our Humble Bungalow.

Besides doing the laundry I cook a lot.

I love to create healthy meals and enjoy experimenting with new recipes.

Simple Omelette

2 farm fresh eggs beaten with 2 tablespoons of milk

salt pepper

Melt a knob of butter in a flat crepe or omelette pan 

when bubbles form pour in the eggs.

Add toppings

herbs or arugula as I have used here.

When the edges are setting up 

run a spatula around the edges and gently coax one end

fold gently over

rolling as you go 

until you have a picture perfect omelette.

One of the "UPS" in this post is that I ate a sensible lunch.

Omelette served with a salad

a low Weight Watcher point count lunch.

A tasty pear sliced thinly and savoured with a cup of tea.

"Guilt free" eating and yet it is filling.

(protein is key to keep me feeling satisfied)

On the DOWNside...

Walking has been hit and miss with the recent inclement weather but we are expecting a warming trend so I will be lacing up my sneakers and pounding the pavement with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Have you started with a 2017 health and wellness journey ?

Are you writing in your journal?

Are you feeling more energetic and enthusiastic?

Words can be so important when motivating and engaging in change.

The Nike slogan "Just Do It" comes to mind.

Another "DOWNfall"...

There was a small cello bag of chocolate bark coated in candy cane sprinkles 

a gift from Christmas 

hiding in the drawer that I "discovered" last Sunday while watching Victoria 

on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.

Dear reader, I am weak, I am human.

 I ate it.

The UPside of this is that there is no chocolate left in The Humble Bungalow!

So it is your turn...

have you been disciplined with your fitness and food regime?

Have you been tempted by treats ?

OR

were you clever and cleaned out your pantry of those naughty things

and

restocked it with only healthy foods?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

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 ~

Seasons Greetings...

The Humble Bungalow is dressed up with twinkling white lights.

We are ready for the Holidays.

Food has been purchased, presents have been wrapped, the baking is finished.

This year

Our Christmas tree is a faux one.

 (blame the naughty cats who climb the tree, drink the water and munch on it)

The faux tree came with lights and has a handy foot pedal that turns it on.

There are 11 different programs for the lights,

 I prefer to have them on old school style rather than waving on and off or pulsating!

We have been enjoying casual seasonal get togethers and creating some new family memories.

Baking 

Gingerbread Men for the grandchildren to decorate.

We had fun decorating the cookies!

Many of the candied decorations were munched before they made it onto the gingerbread cookies...

This Grammy had such fun...

we will have to arrange to do this again next year.

This week a friend and I met for morning coffee in town.

Later

we went to a book store and this book tree caught my eye.

Many of our neighbours have dressed up their gardens with lights and baubles.

The holiday spirit is very much alive in our neighbourhood.

Walking along our street I noticed that more homes are decorated 

than those that are not.

I love that people take the time to participate in making our street a wee bit brighter.

Colourful lights look so pretty strung up in a tree...

a simple idea that really adds ambiance.

Our holidays in The Humble Bungalow focus on the things money can not buy.

It is not all about gifts, but rather the memories...

those that we create today and those we remember from years gone by...

the people who are no longer with us always have a way of popping up in our minds at this time of year.

We toast to their memory...

stories follow

some are funny, some sad

the stories are not all "happy" 

but 

they are part of our history

our festive season is made brighter by 

 connecting with friends and family...

 if your family is far away

unable to get home

you can give of yourself 

with so many opportunities out there 

it fills ones heart to help the less fortunate

or 

you can invite a group of other friends whose families are unable to get together this year and celebrate with a simple meal

it could be a pot luck event

keep it simple.

Festive food and feasting...

treats, baking, chocolate.

Friends, who now live in France, sent us some chocolates.

We nibbled a few last night and they live up to their tasty reputation.

BETA5 is one of the top 5 chocolate makers in all of North America!

With all these extra treats I will need to be vigilant and keep up with my walking,

perhaps walking longer and farther to compensate for these delicious seasonal indulgences.

Weight Watchers will still be there for me after the holidays!

This post is a bit discombobulated and I am trying to rein it in,

 in a cohesive way,

 but I think it has gotten away from me so I had better close.

I am grateful that you are my audience and that you visit and listen...

Thank you so much for reading The Humble Bungalow blog.

Your comments and emails throughout the year are really appreciated.

Wishing you a Joyous and Festive Holiday. 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

WW pep talk, OOTD, and a few garden snippets.

Hope that you are not getting too bored with the walking and weight watching that is going on here in The Humble Bungalow.
Posting frequently is really helping me to stay on target and sharing seems to be helping some of you, especially those of you who are emailing me behind the scenes.
Keep up the good work and try not to be discouraged...
remember that this is a lifestyle change not a fad or crash diet.
Baby steps...slow and steady...keep your eye on the ball!

Visualize what your target will look like...if it is walking briskly for an hour work up to it...if it is looking at the scale with a specific number in mind...visualize what that will feel like and take note of what you need to do to get there....stay positive and embrace the healthy change.

DKNY light weight puffy hooded vest

transitional piece to wear into the Fall.

Fresh out of the shower with damp hair...

OOTD

long sleeved Tee

puffy vest

jeans

walking shoes

There is nothing glamorous about this OOTD

it is all about function and comfort.

I change out of my shoes and sox and opt for ballet flats after my walk,

~ almost 3 pounds lost ~

Several people have mentioned that they are surprised that I would post my weight on the blog...

they thought it would be so embarrassing

so public!

Well honestly I AM embarrassed

as I have let myself down

by letting the weight creep up on me

by not showing will power and discipline.

Part of the plan is coming to terms with the problem and taking action.

Now let's move on and look at the garden for a bit...

new grass 

"Pennisetum alopecuroides moudry"

planted out front in a  planter

right where the deer love to graze...

wonder if they will munch this one

fuzzy "bottle brush" flowers

variegated grass 

"miscanthus sinesis strictis"

porcupine grass

in another planter by the boxwood hedge

close up of the leaves...

spiky fronds with two tones of green

the city crews came by and poured the concrete this morning

you can see the black plastic casing for the clean out that they installed...

I will be adding some more blue fescue grasses on either side of this clean out 

and now I need to go and find a pretty pot to sit atop the plastic contraption and find some pretty plants to go in it!

New novel which I am enjoying...

I read Alice Hoffman before and had forgotten what a great writer she is 

how she weaves a tale that captures our imagination 

she delves into the most peculiar and unusual of topics.

This one is very curious so far...

I am 80 pages into it but I think it is going to be a very good read indeed.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Scenery and a recipe for salsa...

This morning fog rolled in and blanketed the seafront with a cool damp mist.

The scenery took on an ethereal look...

pretty fuchsia flowers growing along the rugged cliffs stood out in the haze.

There was a distinct chill in the air 

until the sunshine came out and burnt off the fog.

It feels like Summer might be fading and Fall is on the way...

The roses in The Humble Bungalow Garden are very happy.

They thrive in the heat and sunshine, provided they get plenty of water.

This vintage chair planted up with flowers at the garden centre stopped me in my tracks. 

I love how it was repurposed as a planter.

A very clever way of recycling an old piece of furniture.

We purchased some drought tolerant grasses for some of our planters in the front garden on the weekend.

Many new and interesting grasses are on the market.

They are often reasonably priced and they are an easy way to add texture, interest, and colour.

Usually the deer do not eat them...

time will tell.

If you are counting your calories or WW points you will like the low calorie and point count of this delicious salsa.

It is quick to make and adds a punch of flavour.

Chef John's recipe is found online at All Recipe's.com

I like to pair this with white fish for dinner.

I have also used it in a fish taco...

I opt for the small corn tortillas as they have higher fibre than the flour tortillas.

If you are following along with me on my journey to shed a few pounds...

I wonder how are you doing.

The brisker walking is really making a big difference in how I feel.

I must admit that my muscles are a wee bit sore but my feet are fine.

Decent walking shoes make a huge difference to my comfort.

I also put moisturizer on my feet before popping on bamboo sox.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~