Growing pains...a transition of sorts.

My hair is going through a transition that I am now referring to as "growing pains!"

It has been a few months since I have seen my hairdresser...
I dearly miss our visits and chats...

I am in the process of growing out the short pixie cut that I had to get several years ago when my frozen shoulder prevented me from using a blow dryer...

Then darn it, the other shoulder froze!
 Which I was not expecting, as I am an optimist.
(I had been warned by the specialist that this may occur!)

So I kept the pixie as it was an easy option
especially when one is in too much pain to lift their arm above their head.

I purchased a Bumble and Bumble product appropriately named
 "Don't Blow It"
to help me with the "growing pains"...
The transition phase from one style to another is not the easiest to style...
at least that's true for me personally.

Oh and here is a bit of wabi-sabi 

the toothpaste tube sitting on the sink...

our humble bungalow is a rife with imperfections!

The back view

one that I don't usually see

shows an area of grey hair near the bottom

nature has had a hand in this as I have not streaked my hair.

The thing that comes to mind is skunk....

Yikes!

My hairdresser said I need to wait at least another two months before coming back in to see her...

So it's what I can only say must be wabi-sabi hair.

Do you change your hairstyle?

Have you grown it long, or do you like it short?

Is it grey or do you colour it?

Any tips on how you've managed the transition?

In closing this post

 before I go out and work in the garden 

I wanted to share this picture with you.

Lovely Constance Spry and Paul's Lemon Pillar Roses

climbing on the arbour out front of The Humble Bungalow on a sunny morning.

The path is sprinkled with petals 

an unintentional wabi-sabi welcome to the garden...

We just celebrated Canada Day July 1st

and 

The 4th of July celebrations are next.

Hope you are having a great week my friends...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD...new shoes

I've been to several shops looking for some new sneakers...
Comfy, casual shoes to wear with my current spring and summer outfits.

I tried on maybe a dozen different styles...what a fabulous selection they have this Spring!
How does one decide?

With so much variety...
everything from a classic Keds sneaker,
to a Converse Chuck Taylor
and more...

I opted for a metallic slip on.

They are a bit bling-y

Will the "Fashion Police" give me a ticket when I wear them?

Do I really care?

 Is this the look of disapproval from Chester?

I plan to wear these with jeans, white linen pants and striped boyfriend cuffed ankle jeans.

They inject a little bit of fun

which I like when purchasing clothing.

A rainy day OOTD

Saint James raincoat

black tights with Chelsea boots

underneath 

 V neck Black Goat cashmere sweater and a Jigsaw mini skirt.

I am in the process of putting my winter clothing downstairs into the guest room closet

then bringing up the summer clothes.

This process has been slowish because I check each item carefully,

launder and iron them

and discard anything that is pilled or looking tired.

I try all the summer things on to make sure they still fit

look decent

  that they are pieces that make me feel confident.

There are a couple of dresses

several pairs of white pants

(white NYDJ jeans, dressy white UPP pants, and a cropped linen pair)

a few tops, most are white and a couple are blue

 a longer white linen top with grey stripes 

shirt style with abalone buttons which I layer over tank tops.

White V neck Eileen Fisher sweater

grey short knit jacket

I keep my denim shirts, skirt, jeans and a jacket in rotation fall and summer.

I need to find a black skort as I do not like wearing shorts anymore.

Other than that I have very few things to buy.

My hair is undergoing a messy growing out stage...

as my frozen shoulder is in the thawing process 

I can now use the blow dryer 

 so with my hairdressers' help 

we will be teaming up and working through the tedious process.

My goal is to grow it back into a wavy bob...

it may take months but I am willing to put in the time.

Here's the Ann Taylor straw bag that I ordered from Etsy.

It is not exactly the same shade of red as my ballet flats but it works...

In order to kick up my exercise

I've been walking farther and in different areas of town.

Trying to increase the pace of my walk without exacerbating shin splints.

I think the change of scenery is energizing!

What have you been up to these days?

Are you enjoying the weather?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Content (at last) with my grey hair...

My hair...has been an ongoing battle issue over the years.
It is thick, wavy...
many would say it is curly,
and it most certainly has a mind of its own.

I value my hairdresser as much as I do our family physician.
They both are very important people in my life, and both give me great advice.

Mother used to say that a woman's crowning glory was her hair. When we were children she cut our hair and we wore it in a short bobbed style that was popular with straight short bangs or "fringes" as they are called today.

Mother once gave me a Twiggy hair cut after I begged to go to the hairdresser for a professional one...just for the record I HAD to go to the hairdresser to have Mom's snippy mess "fixed"...
the hairdresser said "I can do little with this now but it will grow"...
(it took ages and I avoided looking in mirrors for months!)

Mom would collect rainwater to rinse her hair and once a month would give herself an oil treatment...
this involved olive oil, a plastic bag and a towel.
She spent an entire day "at home" during this procedure.

Mom's hairstyles metamorphosed over the years...
my sister and I observed many changes.

Mom had perms for a few years,
she also gave my sister and I "Tonette perms"
usually around Easter for the Sunday service at church.

Mom dyed her hair blonde for a year and we referred to this as her "Doris Day" phase...
later she sprayed a silver streak in the front...this was her "Virginia Graham" phase.

Mom loved fashion, style and was never one to be stuck in a rut...
she moved with the times and had fun...plus she had a great sense of humour.

The "signature hairstyle" that so many women adopt has always eluded me.

Hair has been a source of frustration over the years
flipping and flopping and changing my mind...
cutting it,
growing it,
colouring it.

Now that I have salt and pepper hair, it feels simple and easy ~ to just be natural.

My hair is cropped quite short, it is almost a pixie cut.
I wash it in the shower and towel dry it before I spritz it with curl enhancing spray and then let it air dry.

It feels good to accept things and be content.

Wishing for something illusive is really frustrating
 a complete waste of time and energy.

The style of my hair does not define me, nor take up too much  angst  space in my mind.
I have finally just let it go...

Salt and Pepper

like the highlights I formerly paid for and now they are free!

Mother had lovely silver hair and I expect it may be several years before I get to that all over shade but in the meantime I am embracing this "new natural phase."

I am curious...

Are you happy with your hair?

Have you found your signature style?

Do you colour your hair or have you let it go natural?

Summer reading has commenced... 

I've a long list of books and plan to buy a few more in the coming weeks.

I finished this book recently and wept at the end...

it is worth reading and I would ask you to please read the author's personals note at the end of the book.

What is on your summer reading list?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow.

XO

Talking about Lipstick...

After reading Janet's blog about her cleaning up her laundry room by choosing ecological green cleaning products I got to thinking about the products that I use in our bungalow and especially those that I use on my body.

I have edited the cosmetics that I use.

Disposing of those items past their suggested best by dates and I have been researching healthier options.

Jane Iredale is a mineral based cosmetic company that is sold locally in spas.

 Jane's variety of products are available for young and mature skin types. 

 I have been using her mascara and foundation for about 2 years.

 Until recently the lipsticks I used were usually purchased from the local drug store.

I chose the lipsticks based on their moisture delivering properties and the shades that suited my complexion.

The proximity of lipstick on my lips, 

when drinking and eating

made me reconsider my brand of lip products 

and the ingredients used to make them.

I decided that it was high time that I should be more mindful and opt for a safer, healthier choice.

Jane Iredale Mineral Make Up has quite a good reputation.

Many women use and enjoy her products and share reviews online.

Jennifer Connolly from A Well Styled Life has written about Jane's products.

"Just Kissed Lip Plumper "

I am wearing the shade Tokyo which is a great everyday colour.

Mint and ginger are the ingredients that plump up the lips.

Super moisturizing with ingredients Shea butter, sunflower oil and aloe vera.

Pretty packaging

Purchased at a local Spa

$31.50

 More expensive than many drugstore brands

 but not as much as a designer brand.

I also read that Burt's Bees has a new 100% natural lipstick which has been getting lots of press.

Purchased at the pharmacy for $9.99

it is available in 14 shades.

This shade is called "Brimming Berry"

The Burt's Bees website offers this information...

"Features naturally moisturizing ingredients such as Beeswax, Moringa Oil, Raspberry Seed Oil, and Vitamin E"

At this price one could have several tubes.

I like both of these lipsticks...

both feel great on and are loaded with moisture and feel natural.

So here you have a higher priced and a lower priced option...

it's up to you to choose!

I decided to get my salt and pepper hair 

cropped into a short cut on my last appointment.

It is an easy care summer style and one that requires a bit of mousse and can be air dried which is perfect for our holidays aboard our Sea Ray.

Keeping and maintaining things as simple as possible is my goal...

the time saved means more time for leisure pursuits!

I thought you might enjoy seeing our

Rich red David Austin Rose William Shakespeare

I have been busy dead heading this rose and brought a few inside Our Humble Bungalow to add a lovely fragrance to our main bathroom.

Hope you have a great week.

Honey Bee you won the scarf giveaway so please email me with your mailing address and I will pop it in the post!

~Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Getting my Happy On!

Spring has Sprung!

The pretty pink flowers are bursting forth from the trees that line the boulevards and streets of our city.

Their sweet subtle fragrance wafts as one saunters along 

slowly savouring the scent.

This is just another example of "getting my happy on."

I look everyday for something that makes me happy.

I rarely have to look too far...

on dark days I have to invent my own happy.

Those are days when I brew a pot of imported tea in a special cup and saucer

or soak in a tub of scented bath salts.

There are many many ways to make the most of a "not so great" day.

Change is afoot...

I got my hair cropped

it has got to be wash and wear until I can hold a blow dryer again.

There is good news!

                                                            The RMT is a miracle worker!

She worked on my upper back and shoulder for an hour this week.

There was tenderness while she was giving me my treatment and a few hours after but when I woke up the next morning I could move my arm more and I felt less pain.

Hallelujah!

I made an easy dinner that was so tasty I thought you might like to try it...

busy days beg for simple suppers

I boiled up turnips, spuds and carrots until they were soft.

Then mashed them up set aside to keep warm.

In a cast iron fry pan I sauteed onions until they were soft.

Added a bit of butter and popped in some super skinny pork chops.

Cooked until no longer pink and popped in a few tablespoons of Bonne Maman Apricot Jam.

Reduce the heat and let the flavours mingle before serving.

Hope you like the recipe.

I bought a Tribal Turquoise necklace from an Etsy shop.

I had been looking on Pinterest and pinning gorgeous examples and found a smaller scale one which I thought would look pretty peeking out from the collar of my new to me crisp white shirt.

It was sold to me unpolished and I am thinking that it will stay that way.

I also have a soft faded Gap light wash denim jacket which it would pair well with my white jeans for summer.

I prefer authentic jewelry over most costume pieces.

I have a few items that are cheap and cheerful.

One cannot always justify the expense of fine gems.

There are day to day living expenses...

and one does need to be mindful of the budget!

I do love vintage and hand crafted pieces that are interesting, unusual and make a statement.

So that is about all that is new here in The Humble Bungalow.

Thank you for popping by for a wee visit and a catch up.

Have a Fabulous Weekend!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD dinner out with the family

This past weekend we took our family our for dinner to celebrate our son's 35th birthday.
The grand children were on their best behaviour and the food was delicious...it was nice to go out.

I wore my grey pearls and vintage Nine West embellished cardigan over a black tank top and velvet pants.

The sweater was a recent purchase from VV Boutique, a large thrift shop in Victoria.

Velvet pants and my ancient Amalfi patent leather shoes.

My idea of one notch up from casual.

Comfy to wear with the children yet dressy enough to go out for dinner.

My meal was tasty and rich.

 I savoured the garlic whipped mound of mashed potatoes!

Sometimes one just MUST splurge.

The next week will involve some healthy lunches.

A simple wrap spread with a couple of tablespoons of hummus and loaded with fresh veggies.

I love this kind of lunch...

the softness of the wrap and the crispy crunch of the veggies

and the bonus is that the hummus is full of protein.

One of the benefits of blogging are the comments and the emails received behind the scenes.

Thank you for your kind words of support and taking time to relate your personal stories.

There is a large community of women out there 

who care for each other 

and 

are not afraid of sharing.

I am grateful and humbled.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday ~ Pictures and a few Words

5am ~ the mournful droning of a freighter's fog horn in the nearby Strait wakes me.
I toss and turn
the cat stirs
licks my face...

I am wide awake!

5:30 ~ Sleep eludes me so I tip toe out of our bedroom
close the door
go into the kitchen and make an espresso.

the jolt of caffeine is welcome

Am I too groggy to compose a post this early?

Oh but then I remember it is Wordless Wednesday 

maybe all I need to do is find a few images

post them pronto.

the sparkly Christmas bauble 

left lying in a tangle of twiggy branches

forgotten

the pretty fuchsia blooms

clinging on for dear life 

in the winter chills of January on The Avenue

the novel that has threatened to shut down the domestic team of one

in The Humble Bungalow

L'Occitane Shea Butter

Hostess endorsed "star" performer

keeping my skin supple

(here's the silver star ~ my good housekeeping icon of approval)

Aveda helps keep my curls clean and soft...

I had my hair cut last Saturday.

It was driving me crazy.

Too long and limp and the weight pulled the hair down

so a few layers were added to allow the curls to spring back to life!

My hairdresser gave me some samples of Bumble and Bumble 

their newest products for curly hair.

I am excited about the new Primer...

it helps define the curl and refreshes curls without having to shampoo the next day.

(My hairdresser recommends shampooing every other day.)

On the same topic 

~ Advice from the experts ~

I booked an appointment for a Jane Iredale natural make up session at the Spa.

I am keen to see what products and colours they recommend for my skin tone.

Since I opt for the no make up look, it will be interesting to see the results.

Coffee consumed

cats fed

still dark outside

post finished

ready to publish

~ 7:00am ~

Good Morning from The Hostess of The Humble Bungalow!

Weather, walks and letting go....

Mr. HB and I went shopping for Diptyque candles in Vancouver a few weeks ago...
We purchased our Fall and Winter "go to scent"...Ambre and then it was time to branch out and try something new...
I opted for Roses, because of course, Roses are my all time favourite flower.

Mr. HB got into the swing of things and sniffed all the testers...he liked Menthe Verte.
A fresh light fragrance...greenish, like the Mint itself.

While the house smells all fresh and minty inside we have been adding greenery to the porch.

I had to stop on my walk and take a photo of the moss on a granite wall near The Victoria Art Gallery.

There have been wind storms this past week and there are more in the forecast.

It has been difficult getting my walks in 

as the winds are ripping limbs from the trees 

small twigs are flying everywhere...

I do not want to be a target or suffer a head injury.

So I have been doing what Mother does when inclement weather strikes...

I have been walking in the Mall!

Not that I am a "mall walker" per say.

(many seniors walk in the mall before it opens then they sit and chat over coffee in the food court)

I have been getting some Christmas shopping done and while I am roaming in the shops I make sure that I cover lots of territory!

interesting interior for an elevator

 a sheet metal fantasy

Wind blown hair...

I made an appointment with my hairdresser this week

 after months of the tedious "growing out period."

It has not grown as long as I want it to yet 

but with the festive season upon us 

I can wait no longer.

If I do I might earn the nickname "Scruffy."

These cute little felted animals have my full attention...

they are adorable and so charming.

Crafters that can create such lovely things have my utmost respect.

I have tried to make these and mine looked rather odd.

So odd, 

that I disposed of them before showing them to anyone.

Sometimes we need to let go of the things that we cannot do and let those who can, lead the way!

"Letting go helps us to to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance. 

It allows others to be responsible for themselves and for us to take our hands off situations 

that do not belong to us. 

This frees us from unnecessary stress.

~ Melody Beattie ~

That is my deep thought for the day....

I'm currently busy 

rather pre-occupied with cooking and shopping.

I am volunteering at a Christmas luncheon for about 100 people.

It will be all hands on deck trying to get the full turkey dinner 

and all the trimmings out from the teeny tiny kitchen

to all the hungry diners.

I plan to wear my linen apron and comfy shoes...

hope I don't drop any plates

or pour coffee on anyone's lap or slip on the gravy.