Walking in Sunshine ~ OOTD

Mr. HB and I walked the seafront and I couldn't resist sharing some of the sights...

Dallas Road Waterfront is a popular place for locals and tourists to walk.

On a sunny day there are lots of people out enjoying the fresh air and gorgeous scenery.

Hang gliders flock here when the wind blows.

The cemetery has many interesting trees and is a quiet spot to meander or sit on a bench and ponder for a spell.

"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking."

 ~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~

Ribes are blooming and the hummingbirds love their flowers.

Plum trees are full in flower and sweetly fragrant.

Branches make lovely arrangements in the house if you are fortunate enough to have one growing in your yard.

Or brave enough to sneak snips with your sharp secateurs under the cover of darkness!

Crocus

How can such a tiny flower radiate such cheerful beauty?

Looks like Mother Nature used a paintbrush on this variety of croci.

Magnolia

about to burst forth in bloom.

Gelco puffer jacket

Versace sunnies

Roots mini cross body bag

skinny g21 jeans

Lands End trail shoes

Mr. HB commented that he won't lose me in a crowd wearing this jacket.

I like the pop of colour as it makes me feel like I am adopting a sunny disposition...

the same kind of happiness that I feel when I wear red shoes!

"For happiness one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair."

 ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~

Branching out...

In our neighbourhood people are always putting stuff out on the boulevard.
Stuff that they no longer want and it's free for the taking.
Sometimes it is a ragged couch, old computer or a TV...and I think this is a rather unfortunate habit of dumping things people are too lazy to recycle at the appropriate depots and it makes our neighbourhood look a bit scruffy.

On occasion one finds a true gem.
I have been very lucky scooping up the odd wicker chair, table, vase or canning jars.

I was chatting with my neighbour as she walked by our Humble Bungalow and she had a few large branches in her hands. I thought they were pussy willows at first but upon closer inspection I could see that they were magnolia buds, much larger than pussy willows so naturally I asked her where she had found them. She told me that someone had pruned their magnolia tree and put the trimmings on the boulevard in front of their house a few blocks away...with no time to waste I dashed off to procure my own branches!

I arranged them in the arts and crafts copper vase.

I wonder if they will bloom.

I cut down the pussy willows that were in the copper vessel and rearranged them in a white pitcher.

The bluest skies energize me no end.

I feel that I can breathe deeper and there is an extra bounce in my step.

One of the bounties of Mother Nature's gifts.

Have you found a gem free for the taking?

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

~ Coco Chanel ~

Make some time this week to do something nice for someone who needs a little TLC.

It can be a simple gesture, something from the heart.

Plant some seeds of kindness and watch them grow and blossom.

Hostess

XO

Vogue and Chanel agree...Black and White are best friends!

Black and White tweed combined with ruffly edging come together to make a jacket inspired by Chanel.
I am too embarrassed to mention how little I paid for this jacket so I'll leave you guessing.

It is rather ladylike, a classic, that will be paired with distressed denim as well as dressy skirts and pants.

Have you read the latest Vogue UK?
The Spring fashion issue?
I splurged and spent an hour sipping tea and reading it cover to cover.

On the cover draw your eye to the top right..

"Black and White Fashion's Perfect Pair."

I've been pairing them for the past few years and I am certainly no fashionista.

They are great partners and can be a sturdy and reliable palette.

A reader commented once that my love for black and white reminded them of the uniform that maids and hotel staff wear.

Right you are dear reader!

When I worked at The Oak Bay Beach Hotel in my teens I wore exactly that same uniform!

Coco Chanel loved using them together.

 She was famous for pinning a pure white gardenia bloom onto a black jacket or LBD.

Coco's layered pearl strands were gorgeous worn on top of her black tops, dresses, and iconic tweed jackets.

I wore my boots shopping and they are super comfy.

"Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury."

~ Coco Chanel ~

Picked up some stuff that I needed at Sephora and the Beauty Insider Birthday gift.

Make Up Forever mascara and a lipstick.

I discovered that Fresh makes a Seaberry serum...

I thought that I would try a small size as it has Sea Buckthorn in it. 

I apply a layer Sea Buckthorn salve every night before I go to bed which helps keep my rosacea under control.

I love a Chanel inspired jacket...tweedy with ragged threads.

These details are intrinsic in the iconic Coco Chanel design.

I think I'd swap out the blue denim skinnies for a darker denim, or my black ponte knit pants or black skirt with this jacket.. .it might look better with my white jeans.

With so many options it will be fun switching it up.

All I know is that it will be getting worn a lot!

Not a name that I know...have you heard it before?

Flirty cuff details...

My son and his lovely wife gave me a luxurious birthday gift.

Jo Malone's reed diffuser to imbue our Humble Bungalow with my favourite fragrance.

 Roses!

Life is not black and white, remember there are always some grey areas!

I wish you a joy filled week.

Hostess

XO

Linking up with Patti this Monday 

Birthday...scarves and Paris!

I've clocked another year...
my darling husband brought me tea in bed this morning and a gift.
Aging and nudging 60 doesn't feel at all threatening.
I am embracing 59...and have a whole year to get used to the idea!

We had a Golden for 13 years named Rufus and we love and miss him so much that when it comes to cards,

 we try to find one with a Golden on the front. Their sweet faces just convey so much Love!

Boxes from Wilson's usually mean that inside there is a wee bit of luxury.

Mr. HB surprised and spoiled me with a wonderful classic scarf which I will be wearing for many years to come.

Sumptuous, so soft and cozy!

Thank you honey.

XO

The cats are joining in on the fun too!

I wonder if they'd welcome a Golden retriever into their domain?

OOTD ~ Birthday style

I wore it with my grey Lord and Taylor cashmere V neck long cardigan

white Coldwater Creek tank top

g21 dark skinny jeans

Mee Too black ballet shoes 

Chillax walking coat

Mom and I went out for a walk along the Esplanade and then lunched at our favourite spot, Pure Vanilla.

She gave me some money and directed me to drive to W and J Wilson's on Newport Avenue.

(their other location where my husband shops is on Government Street)

I spied this yummy sunny yellow light weight quilted jacket (on sale) which 

I think will be great for walking and super cozy for boating.

It looks huge in this picture but it is only a size 10.

Puffy quilted coats do add volume but they make up for it in comfort and warmth.

      It reminds me of a beautiful bright green Boden jacket that Duchesse recently purchased.

My BFF and her husband gave me a wonderful floral scarf which I love!

 A bar of triple milled fragrant French soap and a loofah scrubber.

My BFF is planning a trip to Paris in late spring of 2015 to meet up with her husband while he is on a tour with his regiment.

It looks like she and I may be flying over together to spend a week in Paris before she joins up with him.

Perhaps my friends John and Cheryl will be in Auvilar and I can take the train down and stay with them for a few days before flying home.

I feel so optimistic and excited tonight...I may not sleep a wink :-))

We'll need to arrange to rent an apartment in Paris, plan our itinerary and I need to save a big chunk of money to add to the current balance in my "mad money" account.

What an exciting day and evening it has been.

The test drive on the three mascara's has been finished...

Great Lash is the winner.

The brush deposits a small amount of product on the brush which does not clump.

 I like the natural look of each individual lash being darker and defined yet not clumped together.

I may try some other mascara's in the future but for the time being this basic cheap drugstore find is easy on the budget and seems to deliver on it's promise.

Which is all I can ask.

"The most important thing I can tell you about aging is this: If you really feel that you want to have an off-the-shoulder blouse and some big beads and thong sandals and a dirndl skirt and a magnolia in your hair, do it. 

Even if you're wrinkled."

~ Maya Angelou ~

Thank you Kate Spade!

Where do you stand on stripes and dots?
Love them or hate them?

Navy and white
Black and white
Red and white...dots or stripes I love them all.

I spied this Kate Spade dotty tote at Nicholas Randall in Oak Bay.

It took me all of two seconds to decide that it was coming home with me!

Kate Spade shopping tote

rolls up and fits in a pocket or a purse.

Black and white which goes with everything I own!

It's lightweight yet very strong.

Tested to hold 44 pounds.

I plan to take this when I go shopping as it is so much nicer than most plastic bags.

My good old Kate Spade IPhone case.

Here the colours are reversed...

black on white instead of white on black.

I'd like to think that they are related.

Cousins perhaps?

Kate must love pink...

her labels and tags and accents are often pink.

I had my brows tinted this week.

One of the down sides of having a thyroid problem is that one's brows thin and frequently completely disappear.

The esthetician suggested that I use some brow powder...

she showed me how it looked and it is super easy so I bought the wee kit.

It will last for years as a little goes a long way.

You can see my brows are defined and darker.

My hair here looks messy as I have just returned from a wild and windy seaside walk.

Banana Republic striped top that I have had for ages...it's big on me but I still love it and wear it often.

Seeing stripes?

I bought this early in January with some Xmas money and it was on sale.

Say yes to the dress!

Cannot wait for some warmer weather as I plan to wear this a lot.

Loving the zipper detail on the back.

More stripes...

I wear this boating in the summer...

it is made of velour and so cozy.

Styling stripes with a French flair just by adding a silk scarf.

Black and white are made for each other...

Hermes scarf

nary a dotted or striped one in my collection.

I wear this one more than the rest.

Shown here with a Barbour vest and Banana Republic top.

Kate Spade quilted handbag...

in it's 3rd or 4th season and still going strong.

Hush Puppies boots are old as the hills...

still getting their share of wear.

Reading this post I realize that it has been rather scattered...

a little bit of this and that.

It has been a busy day with lots of fresh air and walking and I realize that I must be tired.

So it's off to bed for the Hostess.

Thank you for stopping by and spending some time reading The Humble Bungalow Blog

until next time...

Be Well.