I've got the blues...OOTD

Today I'm wearing a BOHO OOTD...
an asymmetrical tunic top in indigo and cobalt blues.

The top is a bit of a departure from my usual conservative classics but it's such a bright and energetic piece that when I put it on I feel instantly happy!
I love the power of colour.

There is black mesh at the neck and the bottom with a section of the hem gathered up on one side...

made by Papillon.

Yes my hair is wet but it is too hot to blow dry it this morning.

I snapped this photo to show a new CC cream that the gals at the Pharmasave told me about...

It's specifically made for those of us with rosacea.

I am so in love with my new Mulberry back pack bag. 

Shopping and walking is so much easier and it's fashionable too...

it's smaller than my usual bags which makes my shoulders happy!

The Paris inspired red lipstick is getting lots of wear.

It's inexpensive, made by Maybelline, and the shade is called Pleasure Me Red!

I pulled out my sapphire ring when we took Mother out last Sunday for her birthday and I have been wearing it ever since...

Mother celebrated her birthday in style at The Empress Hotel's Bengal Lounge.

My sister and our spouses surprised her with a dinner in her honour...

it's not everyday that one turns 88.

I wore my Jones of NY wrap dress to dinner.

The jingle jangle of the bangles...

It's been a fairly quiet week so far.

The weather has been hot and I have been keeping the blinds closed to maintain the cool here in our Humble Bungalow.

 I've been outdoors dead heading the roses like mad...they LOVE this hot weather!

I picked a bouquet of white Iceberg roses and placed them in the Vintage French pottery jug that I bought on my recent trip. They look lovely in our wee bathroom on the main floor.

So that about wraps it up for now...

our darling grand daughter turns 5 this weekend and I am wondering where the time has gone...

how can she be 5 already?

Hope your week is ticking along nicely...

Seeing the light....and a wee bit of sparkle.

Light in Our Humble Bungalow is low...

The design of arts and crafts bungalows have extended overhanging eaves which do minimize the natural light...that's why we have so many electric lamps and light fixtures.

The walls are papered with organic toned period arts and crafts wallpaper which compliment the 100 year old + Douglas fir  beams and wood wall treatments.

Here is a weekend morning image of our dining room...
it is a challenge to get enough light to read a book or knit.

I finished the blanket that I have been working on for grand baby number 3

(I have folded it in half to take the picture.)

It's the classic block pattern that I have used for all the baby blankets and this time I used a thick cotton yarn in an off white shade.

I usually sit in our living room to read in a Morris chair situated right under a large lamp and this book held me spell bound for several days...
It is a thriller in the style of Alfred Hitchcock and I can see this book easily being made into a film.
The characters are very dysfunctional and quirky...the story held my interest and it is worth reading.

The foyer of the Garnier Opera House in Paris was dimly lit...

it would have been originally illuminated with lamps and candles before electricity.

Can you imagine doing fine needlework, knitting or sewing by candle light or an oil lamp?

It would be hard on the eyes.

I purchased this cheerful towel in France.

I spend so much time in my kitchen that I thought it would be a wonderful reminder of my trip.

I've hung it on my stove.

The sponge is from La Cuisine where author and Ooh La La Paris tour leader  Jamie Cat Callan and I took our cooking class together.

I spied this wee key chain at the local Pharmacy on Oak Bay Avenue.

Which instantly reminded me of the Ooh La La Tour!

I forgot to mention in a previous post that I bought two linen Tees at the Monoprix in Paris.

This one is white with a wee bit of sparkle and the other is in a grey nubby linen.

Both are super comfy and very cool for summer.

The Monoprix has cute fashions...

they are basics and available at affordable price points.

Monoprix is like the American Target store...

(wish we still had Target here.)

I treated myself to a couple of new Hermes scents...

this one I have been wearing daily since I got home from France.

I've also indulged in a hot coffee with foamed milk each morning...

(sometimes two!)

I use espresso in my French Press and foam the milk in the Starbucks electric machine.

I like it much better than cream and an added bonus is that it is WW point friendly.

I miss those cute French glass jars that they store and sell yogurt in, in Paris and France.

A little bit of France has back home with me...

in my head and in my heart.

Memories are the best souvenirs.

Like that first kiss 

I think I'll always remember Paris!

It's a sunny day today and it's Mother's 88th birthday so we are taking her out to celebrate.

It's a surprise and my sister and I are in cahoots about where we are going!

Hope she likes what we have planned.

Cheerio

XO

Dressing tactics...I wear red when I need energy ~ Saturday OOTD.

Some days one just needs a boost...an influx of energy when the physical and mental stores are depleted.
A day dawns when the kick of a coffee is not enough...

My cream in coffee habit has been replaced by foamed milk...

which is win win as there are fewer WW points and it's a fancy way to start the day.

I purchased an electric foam gadget at Starbucks and use 1% milk in it.

So easy and so delicious!

(you can see the base of it to the right of the microwave)

Our Humble Bungalow is bathed in warm sunshine this morning....

 we await word from the vet who is doing more diagnostics on our cat Pepper.

 Who by the way is celebrating her 5th birthday today.

Our lovely daughter is celebrating her birthday today...

Mr. HB's mother will be 97 today.

There are other grandchildren and great grandchildren celebrating an April 18th birthday.

When my energy is ebbing low I dress for comfort.

Opt for cozy worn in "boyfriend" jeans DKNY, a soft Tee shirt Gap, and some ballet flats Lands' End...

this will be my OOTD.

I grab my red shoes...wearing red shoes always puts a smile on my face and a little bounce in my step.

 I was out in Brentwood Bay yesterday delivering the cat to the hospital 

I perused some shops and found a new dress and belt...

Vero Moda dress

Jacob leather belt

This is an easy casual outfit and is super comfy for running errands, lunching with the ladies.

 Or perhaps strolling along the Seine...wandering on the cobblestones of the Latin Quarter or sauntering through the Luxembourg Gardens.

Hope you are having a lovely day.

I can hardly believe it but I'll be in Paris next week!!!

Ooh La La!

Basking in the afterglow....

It's been a heady and dizzy few days of birthday celebrations...
delicious dinners, tasty lunches, flutes of Prosecco and glasses of wine.
Surrounded by family and friends...I've felt honoured and loved.
Thankful and grateful...
for so many lovely comments on my last blog post...

Love this public art...along Dallas Road.

Lunch in Oak Bay on Estevan Avenue at The Village Bistro.

My BFF took me out for lunch on my birthday and we sat outside in the sunshine and it was so warm that we took our coats off!

I opted for the quinoa and roasted vegetable salad on a bed of spinach garnished with roasted kale 

served with a light lemony vinaigrette.

Healthy, tasty and delicious!

Too many meals out with too much wine has tipped the scales...

so I am getting back on track.

Lapsang Souchon Tea 

served in a Paragon fine bone china tea cup that I found at the Oak Bay United Church Rummage Sale.

The $4.00 price tag was too good to pass up,

  the ladies that volunteer their time have such a great time and are chatty and animated

besides they are keen to show and sell their wares.

All the proceeds go to help those in need in our community.

My breakfast today...

toast, peanut butter and half a banana.

That will hold me until lunch time 

then I plan to have a salad with some salmon lightly dressed with some balsamic vinegar.

The weather is lovely so getting outdoors for a walk is a treat.

The Clover Point Boat ramp...

I wonder if this is used very often anymore?

Looking much taller in the shadows...

and if you look closely it looks like I have some wild spiky hair!

This morning I have been busy in the Humble Bungalow.

It's a rather "normal" day for chores...

the bedding has been changed

the sheets and coverlet have been washed and dried

the kitchen has been tidied

the dishwasher has been put through it's cycle

the fridge washed out

the compost emptied

After my walk I plan to read a chapter or two...

I'll be visiting a cave in the Midi-Pyrennes this May.

 John and Cheryl gave me this book so I could read up on the history.

I've read the first two chapters and I am hooked!

What's new in your part of the world?

Have you read a great book that you'd like to recommend?

Be Well and Be Kind

Hostess

XO

This is how we celebrate...60...OOTD

Mr. HB and I discussed my 60th birthday...
how we would like to celebrate and we decided on a catered dinner, a gathering of family and friends.

We were originally going to go to a local restaurant with a private room.

 and just before we booked the venue our friends offered to host it in their gorgeous heritage home.

This table was set up in their living room!

 Thorn and Thistle is my go to for flowers and my friend artfully arranged them in her vintage vases and planters.

~ Delicious appetizers ~ 

crab cakes followed by lamb popsicles based on Vikram Vi'j's recipe

started the evening off as they were served while we mingled sipping flutes of Prosecco.

All the catering was done by our good friend Julie who is a superb cook and has an eye for every last detail.

She owns and runs Jules catering here in Victoria.

If you have a special event and need some help please give her a call.

We set up a bar...

Caesar Salad to start...

Home made pasta with Gorgonzola sauce with a garnish of crunchy walnuts

Lemon Chicken "Piccata" so tender that it practically melted in my mouth!

Rice pilaf

and trays of roasted vegetables.

Dessert was a chocolate quinoa cake served with whipped coconut milk and fresh raspberries.

Oh and there were cards, gifts, Euro's and tears of joy.

My children totally surprised me with a beautiful pearl pendant and bracelet from Birks.

A pretty silver star and a handy jewelry pouch for travel...

cookbook

I dressed up for the party...

I wore my favourite LBD with an artisan necklace by Debra Kay...

which was swapped for the gorgeous pearl pendant as soon as I opened the box!

Banana Republic Robson handbag and Stuart Weitzman shoes complete the outfit.

I am so grateful for this special party and thank you my wonderful husband, family and friends.

It was a memorable evening and I loved having everyone around helping me usher in the next decade.

We have frequently marked my birthdays on the sandy beaches at Point No Point.

Writing messages in the soft wet sand...

only to watch the waves wash my words away.

"Time and tide wait for no man."

~ Geoffrey Chaucer ~

“The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion.”

  ~ William Makepeace Thackeray ~

Plan to keep looking for the magic in each day...

and savouring the beautiful.

In my early 20's in the Magic Kingdom...

where does the time go?

Inside I feel very much like that young woman...

 a few exterior changes...

My hair is grey, with laugh lines, my jaw is softening...

No longer 110 pounds ~ no longer able to fit into that size 6 leather jacket.

Still like to laugh and smile as often as possible.

Have fun and experience Joy.

Love spending time with our friends and family.

Grateful for our grandchildren ~ the greatest gifts.

Thank you for stopping by...

Hostess

XO