Mid May Musings...from Gardening to My "minimalist" approach to Style...

 

May is a very busy month here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

We have all kinds of plants blooming and various plans for new beds and borders.

Mr. HB is digging up the wee front lawn which has been struggling to grow 

ever since the neighbour's Arbutus Tree grew tall and shaded our front garden.

We will build a small patio using old bricks.

I hope to relocate the black birdbath to the centre of the new patio

buy a black pot and plant a large Boxwood Globe.

I am so looking forward to sharing the new area and will do so in a future post! 

With my broken ankle I have been sitting more...

Tea, a good book on the porch in the sunshine listening to the birdsong

 is not a hardship!

In the wee library across the street I discovered a book by author Susie Steiner.

I really enjoyed her first book Missing, Presumed.

Quickly put the next 2 books in the series on Hold at my local library.

DSI Manon is an interesting and complex character, as are the rest of her team.

One feels that they are REAL people.

UK Crime Dramas fascinate me...

Was surprised to learn that Susie Steiner passed away at the age of 51 

 a glioblastoma brain tumour.

Unfortunately

I know of a few people who have passed away recently from a glioblastoma

~ Pavement Series Rose ~

This reliable, vigorous, hardy, drought tolerant rose is VERY thorny.

It can be grown as a hedge.

The blooms are frilly, frothy and fragrant.

Mr. HB managed to grow a new one for our neighbour from a shoot.

Soon all of our roses will be in bloom...we have over 30 roses in our small garden.

It might sound excessive...but I am a passionate rose grower.

When our Olive Tree died in the cold snap this past winter I was sad.

Was so hopeful that we might have a wee bit of Italy in our backyard.

Alas it is not to be...

Mr. HB suggested I buy a new rose to fill the space :-))

It took me NO Time at all to find a new candidate...

Bathsheba, a David Austin Rose, is now growing in that space!

Made a Cheese Sourdough loaf of bread and it was surprisingly easy.

Recipe found online at Pantry Mama.

The sourdough exploratory journey continues!

Who knew that baking bread would ever be such a big part of my week?

Some thoughts and musings about clothes, style and fashion...

shoes are not shown

 Comprising of several pairs of loafers, sandals as well as white sneakers.

I have various pieces of outer wear which I have not included in this closet.

Eileen Fisher blue swing coat, Eileen Fisher Khaki jacket, 

distressed Old Navy denim jacket, 

black moto,

Ralph Lauren black quilted barn coat.

The Minimalist Wardrobe continues to be working...

I am constantly editing.

(Summer Wardrobe)

Black, white, grey neutrals and shades of denim blues

with a few POPS of Colour.

I much prefer a smaller wardrobe as it makes getting dressed so easy.

No more standing in front of the closet humming and hawing about what to wear!

In order for a small wardrobe to work, and be versatile,

I have found that I need to pay extra attention to texture and accessories.

This blouse is a great example...

Tiers of cool textured fabric ~ flow.

I have worn this with black pants and jeans.

 

Accessories are Key components in any outfit.

Big Baroque Pearls make an appearance frequently.

I consider these a "Statement Piece."

My smaller Akoya Pearls are much more subtle.

Both get equal wear.

Basic Players for Summer are :

Two Old Navy denim shirts, 

one a medium blue the other very soft and faded.

Gap sleeveless denim top with pin tucks.

A couple of white shirts, a few white Tees, a sleeveless linen tank.

Several pairs of black pants...2 are dressy.

A black pair of ankle length cuffed pants which have white flecks.

Tan and white striped pair of wider profile ankle pants (NEW) from Talbots

2 pairs of denim blue Jeans

one light the other dark

pair of white jeans

Black tunic top crinkled by Cut Loose wear with black capri tights.

Black sleeveless crinkled dress, black with white polka dots shift dress.

Denim dress, 

white and blue striped maxi length linen dress

bold yellow Italian linen maxi dress.

White and Black skirt with asymmetrical flounce.

White shift dress with pockets in cotton.

I no longer wear shorts...

Lacy socks add a bit of fun worn with my white sneakers and loafers.

The juxtaposition of the lace and the nacre of the pearls works.

Clothes are more than just coverings...

they are an expression of one's personal style.

Creativity definitely comes into PLAY :-))

This thrifted sequin top is a Wild Card in my wardrobe...

whimsical and totally surprising.

Think of wearing it with my white denim jeans...or polished black ponte knit pants.

Maybe even the San Tropez silk skirt I found at The House Of Savoy?

I have kitten heels with some sparkle on them that will be fun to wear...

these sandals are about 15 years old and they need to get some time out of their box!

~ Behind the Scenes ~

Not everything needs to be classic and conservative...

Prima Donna make such beautiful lingerie that I cannot resist

 A Pop of Colour

What really started me on the minimalist wardrobe edit 

was flying off to France in 2015 for 3 weeks with ALL my clothes in a carry on...

I am having FUN with fashion and am really enjoying a fresh new focus.

Clothes that work well with my retired lifestyle

and 

are often found in consignment and thrift shops.

~ WIN WIN ~

Are you a minimalist or a maximalist?

Do you have a wee closet like me 

or a walk in closet with built in drawers and shoe racks?

Well I must get off the computer and start some lunch for my husband who is toiling outside in the Humble Bungalow Garden!

Cheerio for Now...

Look forward to your comments on the subject.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

January ~ Thrifting and some healthy changes...

 

Found a camisole at the Thrift Shop and I was SO pleased...

A lacy camisole had been on my "wish list" for quite a few months.

The cost of the ones that I loved were much more than I wanted to spend.

Trying to be mindful of expenditures now that Hubby is fully retired. 

Slowly coming to the reality that we are now "pensioners."

The cost was under $5 so easily justified :-))

Paired it with my faded denim shirt....added some pearls.

I am really enjoying wearing denim these days.

The denim jeans (no spandex) from MNG purchased last year.

Have a few old distressed items that I am happy to say didn't get culled.

The denim jacket from Old Navy, the Old Navy darker denim shirt, lighter one (here) and the denim jumper by Tribal and a chambray denim long tunic from Lands End.

I have on order a new denim dress...from Lands End.

I love how soft the garments feel when they have been washed many times.

~ COZY ~

Adding more fibre daily...

Bran Buds and protein rich Greek Yogurt

1/3 cup of each mixed together in the morning after my cup of coffee.

Also reducing portions for a while to see if this helps me shed a few pounds.

I have tried intermittent fasting for the past year and was not seeing much difference.

We have had a mixed bag with weather...

sunshine and clear blue skies mixed with gale force winds and rain.

Despite the inclement weather 

I need to push myself to get out in the fresh air...

Mother Nature's Pearls...

Snowberries.

There is snow in the forecast!!!

Lovely hand cream, William Morris At Home.

A gift from our son and the grandchildren.

Did a quick manicure today...Sally Hansen "Expresso" one coat dries in a minute. 

Soft faded denim and pearls with a wee bit of lace peeking out.

This image shows off the lace...

I didn't have my black velour jacket open this much at coffee!!!

I just wanted to show you the pretty lacy details that are hidden.

Lingerie is really a private item in our wardrobes...

wearing it makes us feel feminine and comfortable.

I love the Prima Donna line of bras and panties...

Lily Pad Lingerie here in Victoria carry their line.

I am due to visit them soon and purchase my annual supply.

Well I suppose that is all to share for now...

Hope your year is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Denim basics...and some new splurges.

Some serious work horses in my wardrobe are denim.

From left to right...

Cailey 22 shirt, no name thrifted denim jacket, Ralph Lauren denim shirt.

Soft tencel Levi's denim dress

I have been wearing this dress a lot this summer.

In the winter I pair it with capri length tights and my Chelsea boots.

Comfy boyfriend jeans by NYDJ

worn here with a striped top

Clark sandals.

I have been aware that my outfit choices have become quite repetitive...

perhaps because I have fewer items and I feel comfortable in the pieces that I keep.

It makes dressing so much easier with fewer things hanging in the closet.

Surprisingly 

I do not tire of the same clothes...

some are getting worn so much that the fabrics are softening!

I splurged on two new bras...

by

Prima Donna and Wacoal.

My "go to" black pants that I wear many times each week 

were looking rather tired...

I purchased a new pair of black Eileen Fisher pants which are really quite lovely.

They are what I consider an "investment" item 

but the cost per wearing will even out that expenditure

 over the next couple of years.

How do you feel about your wardrobe?

Are you a minimalist or do you like to have a full closet with many pieces?

Have you purchased anything for the Fall season?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Silk...and French Inspiration

Vintage Silk scarf by Vetter of Switzerland

easy to wear and so soft...

Silk and cashmere are two of my all time favourites.

When I think of lovely lingerie 

 France comes to mind...

the selection and sumptuous styles for women 

of all shapes and sizes 

are plentiful in the shops of Paris.

The lingerie sections at

Galleries Lafayette

and 

The Bon Marche 

are two that stand out.

It is so easy finding beautiful intimates in France...

there are lingerie shops in the smaller villages too!

I've been lusting after some new lingerie...

it is on the top of my list.

I love wearing this

Nougat Silk Camisole

soft mauve shade with purple lace.

Silk feels sensuous 

wearing a silk nightgown or camisole makes me feel very feminine.

I've juxtaposed the silk with denim here for a day of domestic chores and cooking.

Cooking new dishes has become a bit of an obsession of late...

Julia Child has some amazing books and You Tube videos of her PBS shows.

I have to smile when I watch some of these older videos...

she is such a character!

I felt like I was in a bit of a "cooking rut"

 so kicking it up a notch and trying some new recipes feels so energizing.

I made a jar of Julia's basic and very simple vinaigrette and loved the flavour.

In the movie Julie and Julia the scene from the Paris Cafe 

where Julia, played by the talented Maryl Streep, is served sole 

 seriously resonates with me...

that incredible dish is Sole Meuniere.

I plan to make this dish for my husband...

 I am substituting fresh halibut 

as it was the freshest fish offered at the fish monger.

The butter needs to be clarified ahead of time.

So

I spent the afternoon prepping dinner.

I made an endive leaf salad with crumbled bacon, sliced cherry tomatoes, scallions and grated parmigiano Reggiano

which is covered and is chilling in the fridge.

The vinaigrette will be drizzled over top just before serving. 

Asparagus will be steamed and served with the fish dish...

a few slices of a baguette will be at the ready to sop up any of the juices.

I will boil up a few waxy yellow potatoes to serve with the halibut.

Dessert will not be served...

as neither of us have "sweet teeth"

besides it will be a "big" meal...

enough to satisfy our humble tastebuds.

I sharpened all our knives too...

they were getting incredibly dull.

We have an electric sharpener by Chef's Choice 

I have practiced on several knives I think I have the hang of it.

Boy having a super sharp knife is so wonderful.

I'm kind of proud of myself for learning a new skill...

This book is quite a fun read...

am only into a few chapters so far as

I sat down for a few minutes to put my feet up and have a cuppa...

almost didn't want to get back up and put the book away!!

Bon Appetit!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday thoughts January. 2018....

I finally purchased a new IPhone case...

my other one was chipped and the coating was peeling off

 every time I looked at it it made me cringe so why it took me so long to find a new one is beyond me.

I'm experiencing disrupted sleep

it is most likely stress

but

like many women of my age 

who frequently find that our sleep wake rhythms change

the nights feel rather long when one lies awake 

listening to the ticking of the clock

I am trying to come to terms with these new sleep patterns

but it is not easy.

In the morning when I wake up and look in the mirror 

I see that my eyes are puffy 

and my skin has creases on the side of my face

from lying on my pillowcase.

I  googled "wrinkles on the face from sleeping" and to my surprise discovered that if one uses a satin or silk pillowcase that these wrinkles will be reduced.

I was really skeptical 

but with several leading dermatologists endorsing the product 

I thought that I better give it a try...

 after one night of sleep

I am thrilled to tell you they really do WORK!

I did not wake up "Feeling Glamorous like the box indicates 

but I woke up and was happy to see that the deep creases were not imprinted on my cheek!

I also have introduced a healthy product into my skincare regime

At bedtime after cleansing my skin

I apply a small amount of coconut oil on my face.

It is super emollient and feels so soft in the morning.

This large jar was under $10 and it will last a long time...

and you can use it all over the body.

I am taking life one day at a time...

seeking small comforts and snippets of beauty

where I can find it in my daily round...

it is a lot harder to find than it used to be

and 

if I had a magic wand I would wave it and erase all the bad stuff in our world.

I will continue...

to do my best.

Home keeping

cooking

taking care of my husband

offering support to our family

tending to our cats 

and 

walking.

sharing random acts of kindness

Cocooning and recharging....

behind closed doors.

Its also the time of year when I like to replace some of my lingerie

so this is on the top of my list of things to do 

perhaps I'll get around to it this week.

Have you got a long list of things to do this month?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Saving money, lingerie, quinoa salad and my poor sister.

I love lingerie and seem to be drawn to the boutiques that sell French lines like Chantelle and La Perla, but my goodness, I find them to be quite expensive.

Saving money,
while still buying decent fitting and pretty undergarments
has been a bit of a tedious job.

Fortunately I found some great basics at Sears and Marshall's
and they were purchased at budget friendly prices.

My all time favourite rose

Jude the Obscure is in full bloom out front in the garden.

I would love a soft peach blush bra and pantie set.

This Bali bra was found at Marshall's for just under $20.

It is a serious workhorse in the undergarment world!

Thank goodness for the architects of bras!

The "granny panties" are by Jessica from Sears.

The lace is pretty and the stitched panels help keep the wobbly bits in check!

I purchased 6 of these and I usually hand wash and hang to dry all my lingerie as it lasts much longer that way.

These were very reasonably priced...I cannot remember exactly what I paid for them but I think all 6 were about $35.

I feel very feminine when I am wearing nice lingerie.

Do you read Jennifer's blog "A Well Styled Life?"

She recently wrote a post about granny panties.

You can read it here.

The Eres panties she used in her post cost a LOT of money!

Can you guess how much they cost?

$255 a pair!

Would you pay that for a pair of granny panties?

I suppose if money grew on trees I might but alas it does not and I am very mindful of expenditures since retiring.

My poor sister was thrown off her horse when they rode through a wasp nest on The Galloping Goose trail near Metchosin.

She sustained complex fractures in her arm that requited plates and pins and she is now recovering at home.

I made a tasty quinoa bean salad from the Whitewater Cookbook for her...

and I'll bring a rose bouquet, chocolates and magazines.

We plan to go out for lunch and I will be the driver as she has her arm in a cast and will be wearing that cast for about 8 weeks.

She is already going squirrelly at home...

it must be so frustrating

I totally empathize.

I'll do my best to cheer her up.

My morning espresso was wearing a Happy Face today!

Hope that you have a great weekend.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

XO

New Year Regimes...Skincare and Weight Loss a post that is packed to the brim!

Are you loyal to one line of skincare products?
Many women I know use the same brand and never deviate from what works for them.

My favourite aesthetician left the Spa that I have been going to for years and I followed her to her new location downtown at Sapphire Day Spa.

I treated myself to a facial before Christmas and spent a heavenly 90 minutes in her talented hands.
Like a butterfly flitting about searching for the new and improved... I purchased a "starter set" of the products that she recommended for my skin type from the Eminence line from Hungary.

Monoi Age Corrective Exfoliating Cleanser

Bamboo Firming Fluid

Neroli Age Corrective Eye Serum

Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer

Bamboo Age Corrective Masque

Once a week I use these products:

Step 1 ~ Arctic Berry Exfoliant

Step 2 ~ Arctic Berry Advanced Peel 

Step 3 ~ Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream

My skin feels so soft after the once a week treatment and it is gentle on my skin.

Good skin care is so important. 

The face reflects good skincare habits, nutritious food and healthy lifestyle choices.

After I cleanse and moisturize I wait a few minutes for the products to sink in.

I use the following products with a very "light hand."

a dusting of La Bella Donna mineral powder ~ Crema

                                      Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder ~ Antigua

Pur eye shadow ~ Lavender Mourite

Maybelline Brow Drama ~ Deep Brown

Jane Iredale Mascara ~ Black Ice

Chanel Rouge Coco ~ Orchidee

For evening I will add a very thin eye liner in dark brown and use a darker lipstick.

(the shade that I purchased in Paris) 

Maybelline ~ Pleasure Me Red

How are you feeling after the Festive Season?

Did you eat a wee bit too many sugary sweets or rich foods?

I know I did!

My jeans are a bit too snug.

I am not going to beat myself up for being human.

I just need to get back on track...

count my Weight Watcher Points and increase the pace and length of my walks.

In a few weeks the scale will reflect my dedication and my clothes will feel much more comfortable.

Here is how I will be eating.

If you care to join me we can support each other.

Breakfast ~  yogurt and fruit or Rogers Ancient Grains Oats with fruit.

Lunch is simple...salad with protein.

Often an egg or a bit of feta cheese crumbled over greens.

The protein helps keep hunger pangs away.

Snacks consist of fresh fruit or sliced

carrots and celery with 2 tablespoons of hummus.

Coffee with foamed skim milk is a treat.

I drink lots of water throughout the day...it is great for the skin and helps keep me feeling full.

Tea is my afternoon ritual.

A luxury that I indulge in when I sit for a bit and read in a cozy chair.

Dinnertime I make a protein and salad or fresh veggies.

Often skipping a starch like potatoes or rice and I try to avoid pasta.

Potatoes and pasta are my weakness!

So out of sight out of mind works best 

in this initial stage of getting back on track.

Keep moving...

walk, swim, dance, clean the house.

To keep you motivated and not deprived...

Reward yourself with non food items.

New lingerie perhaps?

A new book...

a scented candle

or rearrange your home decor

do whatever inspires you.

I like to walk and look for the beauty along the way.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Hostess