Shopping ~ Bling with Black...starring YOU!

The second installment in my series of wardrobe thoughts...

"Starring YOU."

Darling daughter and I went out for dinner at Rebar before embarking on a wee bit of retail therapy.

I recommend the fish tacos as they were so fresh and delicious,

 but the portions were too big for us.

We could only eat half...

next time we will order one order and split a small salad.

Darling daughter lives downtown so we took the leftovers to her condo and her boyfriend was happy to have a ready made dinner!

Then we hit the shops...

I have been shopping with an eye to Paris and the 3 weeks in a small Carry On.

Black is the core colour and there are going to be very few items so they ALL MUST work with each other.

Hose to wear with my LBD...and I did not want to go with nude or plain black.

I think hose can be a great accessory and make a statement without screaming too loud!

Target is closing here in Canada which makes me feel sad as I quite like their selection of lingerie...

I am told that Paris has lingerie shops on almost every corner...kind of like we have Starbucks.

Anne Klein silk and rayon lightweight cardigan in cream with black OOOO"S!

Brand new without tag ~ thrifted.

Will easily slip over a jersey tank or tee and can be worn over an LBD.

Striped lightweight jersey tunic top by Bianca Nygaard.

Great with skinny jeans or capri leggings which I am packing to wear in the south of France.

Super comfy black Clarks walking shoes to navigate the Parisian cobblestones...

I was on the hunt for a smallish cosmetic bag and looked high and low.

The Sportsacs were either too big or too small.

The leather Marc Jacobs was too small lengthwise and at $40 I thought a bit pricey...

as you may recall

I am saving Euros for Paris shopping!

The criteria was that it had to be long enough not to squish my Aveda blush brush.

Lilly Pulitzer for Estee Lauder cosmetic pouch ~ Thrifted.

Bright, cheap and cheerful.

Jane Iredale mascara...a luxe mascara.

I love the full brush and the formula PLUS it has a 12 month shelf life.

 I was wasting mascara having to throw partly used tubes away every 3 months.

The brush will fit inside easily with all my other cosmetics...

of which there are only a few pieces.

Mineral make up and a brush.

Eye shadow and a brush.

Eyelash curler.

Brow brush.

Eyeliner.

Lipstick.

I bought a pair of Compression socks to wear on the plane.

 Tish Jett wrote in a recent post that French doctors and pharmacists recommend them.

She's been blogging about packing for Paris and she knows what she is talking about as she lives in France.

Bring on the BLING...

I tried on this bracelet for fun.

It was pretty but I don't think I'd wear it very often...

it is not a reflection of my "authentic self."

I would feel a bit like I was "dressing up for a costume party."

I am not suggesting that this bracelet is in bad taste...it is just not "my style."

But every so often I do like to dress up in something sparkly...

New Years Eve or at Christmas.

There are a few pieces in my closet that are kept specifically for this reason.

Darling daughter gave me a gift.

It's the sequined top which I am wearing with my black skinny jeans.

I had to stretch my arms way out to take this picture because we have no large mirror in our Humble Bungalow that is well lit enough to take decent pictures.

(I must try and rectify that sometime)

She found it at a thrift shop and it is vintage beaded wool top.

Woodwards label is intact and the piece is in pristine condition.

Look at the exquisite floral detail.

(Faux Fuchsia would approve...she luffs her sequins!)

It is surprisingly heavy and I plan to fold it carefully in tissue and store it in a drawer.

I am already thinking about what I'll wear it with...besides jeans.

It might be fun to pair it with my black skirt or dressy black pants and wear it out to dinner.

I'm wearing a stack of bangles too...

having fun blogging in a party worthy outfit while sipping tea as the washer and dryer are going through their paces on a very busy domestic day.

I must get changed and get on with my day.

I have a bazillion things on my do list and they won't get done by themselves.

I think "Fashion should be fun."

If it isn't why bother?

 I took Mother to see The Next Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and she loved it...

an all star cast and the acting is marvelous.

If you have any thoughts on sequins or bling or basic black wardrobes please leave a comment.

I am not the only one who thinks about what the clothes we wear say to the world.

Check out blogs online and you'll find thousands of women are talking...

Many of the fashion and style blogs that I have read are young women.

So IS anyone bothering to look at us older gals now that we are "Invisible Women?"

Should we care?

I don't mind being invisible at all.

I find it a quite comfortable prospect...

how about you?

Orange...a pop of colour that elevates the spirit and energizes.

The heart of the home...
our kitchen
in The Humble Bungalow
where I spend many contented hours cooking, baking and cleaning.

Orange Gerberas in a vintage vase add a shot of colour.

I keep an old fashioned day timer in which I record our appointments and meals.

Mandarin oranges add colour and a tangy flavour to this coleslaw salad...

Mandarin Orange Coleslaw

Shred or slice a red cabbage

chop a few scallions

grate a large carrot

1 cup mandarin oranges sliced in half

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

1/4 cup dried cranberries

Place in a bowl and top with dressing.

Dressing

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons orange juice

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Toss together and chill until ready to serve.

Enjoy.

I served this to company with BBQ ribs and boiled new potatoes topped with butter and freshly chopped mint.

Dessert with a little help from Ina Garten.

It is from her Barefoot Contessa Parties cookbook.

(You could substitute the lemons for oranges and make orange bars.)

A delicious and easy recipe.

The Kitchen aid gets plenty of work here in The Humble Bungalow.

I love mine and they come in many colours...even orange!

Luscious lemon squares served with fresh blackberries.

This luxurious linen towel is made specifically to clean glass and crystal.

I use it to clean the windows.

It is from the Irish Linen Shop here in Victoria and I cannot recommend it highly enough...

some may like micro fibre for this job but I am a die hard linen fan.

The drawers in the kitchen have been cleaned and sorted.

The Humble Bungalow everyday cutlery is Reed and Barton stainless.

If you have a bumper crop of tomatoes you might like to pop them in a hot oven for a few minutes

so that they take on a rich flavour and top them with some freshly grated pepper and sea salt.

I like to drizzle mine with some balsamic crema...which is a reduced balsamic vinegar.

I buy mine from the deli area of Thrifty Foods.

I'm feeling in an orange mood and will pop this vintage silk Lanvin scarf on when I go out to do my errands.

It may hide my pearls but that's OK as I know they'll be on my neck...

rather like wearing nice lingerie..

it's a secret that makes me feel a bit more dressed up and adds that little bit of French Chic.

Hope that your week will be fun...

thank you for taking your precious time out to stop by my humble blog today

and I appreciate the emails you sent introducing yourselves to me. 

It's nice to meet and connect with readers.

Hostess

Roses, Hermes and a negligee...

I do love a surprise and that is exactly what I found when I came home from my walk.
On the table by the front door was a lovely wrapped bouquet of flowers and a card from the staff at work.

pretty in pink

a lovely combination of Roses and Gerbera daisies

creating cheer and bringing with them a feeling of complete and utter joy

flowers are always a welcome gift

I think they are a perfect way to say all kinds of things

~ ~ ~

congratulations

in sympathy

romance

festive occasions

weddings

thank you

get well soon

cheer you up posies

you name it there is a flower to mark the event

~ ~ ~

always a welcome Hostess gift !

I wore my newest Hermes scarf tied simply with a white tank and a grey cashmere sweater.

I feel very feminine when I take the time to wear a scarf

it's just like wearing a light spritz of my signature scent

or knowing that I have on some pretty lingerie.

Not everyone will notice but they make a difference to me and how I feel about myself.

Just a wee message that says you're worth it.

I love the weight of the Hermes silk twill

it has body and can be draped and tied in so many wonderful ways.

Did you know that Hermes does not recommend that you wear your scarf in the rain?

So be careful.

something a little silky to wear to bed...

a hint of lace

soft shades of aqua and grey

What makes you feel feminine?

Do you have daily rituals that contribute to your well being?

Are they things that were passed down from your Mother

learned from your girlfriends or discovered all by yourself?

I'd love to hear from you...

 Dr. Andrew Weil's Book 

8 Weeks to Optimum Health

has some interesting tips on living a balanced life

there is great advice on healthy eating

 habits that can reduce your weight

lower your stress and blood pressure

and generally improve the quality of life.

SO...

with that in mind

I am taking a few days off from blogging

going to unplug my tech toys for a bit...

I plan to read, knit, walk, sleep, eat healthy, recharge, refocus and relax.

Have a wonderful weekend!

A womanly post...thinking in pink.

Getting the right fit
is so important.

Did you know that most women are wearing the wrong bra size?

I have had the luxury of shopping at a lovely boutique owned by a very skilled English lady Jackie,
who incidentally, insisted on measuring her clients every time they came in for new brassieres.
I scoffed at the idea as I shopped semi annually for bras, how could they change size in 6 months?
Who knew?
Thankfully I listened to her advice.

She has retired now and I miss the sumptuous selection and her expert service so much.
I may have vented about this here on my blog before...
like a dog with a bone I am not wanting to let it go!

It's frustrating to go to a department store, peruse the stock, take in a few at a time, try them on and then get dressed again and repeat the process several times before finding what works best.
There never seems to be a clerk about when I need one.
I am I the only one who finds this frustrating?

Jackie would eye you up after measuring you with her tape and she knew which bras would fit
and often the sizes would be slightly different than what you might expect based on the styles.
(not unlike a designer's sizing, each company has it's quirks)

Peg was Jackie's assistant and she was SO funny.
A woman of "a certain age" with a savvy sense of fashion and a figure quite like mine and a rapid rapier wit.
She once shocked me after she measured my chest with her tape
(which hung conveniently around her neck as if she was a tailor)
she placed both her "cupped hands" over my breasts
to determine my cup size. I kid you not.

It took me by surprise and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
I have told this story many times to my friends, but the weird thing is that she knew the cup size!

Living in a smallish town we have a few lingerie shops and I am hoping that someone will open a new one.
Vancouver is the closest city where one can find lovely the French lacy Chantelle's and the Italian engineered Prima Donna's, two of my favourite makers.
Good quality lingerie does not come cheap, they are investment pieces in my opinion.
When one spends a generous sum on staples like these, one needs to economize in other areas.

Do you ever order lingerie off the internet?

I picked this up the other day

at the small bookshop on The Avenue

apparently it inspired Julian Fellowes

to pen Downton Abbey.

The clerk Shirley, and I had a rousing and animated conversation about Downton Abbey.

We were both gushing about the series and have watched the episodes many times and never tire of them.

Are you a Downton Abbey fan?

I am mad for the series and can't wait for more.

You might like to read Julian's novels Snobs and Past Imperfect

both reside in a place of honour in my collection 

they are very rich and thoroughly entertaining.

To Marry an English Lord

"American Heiresses Take on Peerage"

"In 1895 nine American girls, including a Vanderbilt, LaRoche, Rogers, and Whitney married peers of the British realm-- among them, a duke, an earl, three barons, and a knight. It was the peak year of a social phenomenon that began in the Gilded Age after the American Civil War, and handed down the legacy of Anglomania, preppie, and the world of the television series Downton Abbey."

It has been added to the stack of books at my bedside table

so many fabulous books waiting...

Hermes share a shelf with future reads.

Bolder Breakfast Tea

(gift from Peg in Comox)

sipping and savouring this delicious blend 

while composing this post.

Thanks Peg!

I just realized there are two Pegs in my posts today.

Soft pink hydrangea blooms

subtle in the dim light

  of the Humble Bungalow dining room.

pretty in pink

This plant was under $20

 will bloom for many weeks 

before being replanted in the garden.

May brings many blooms to the garden

and with them come many weeds

and a lawn that runs riot.

Treat your self to some fresh flowers

or some pesky weeds if you prefer...

 a jar of sunny yellow dandelions are free

and ever so cheery.

XO

Hostess

Re ~ addressing denim with yellow and a lemon cake recipe by request.

I have had this Blue Willis Danish denim jacket for years.
It was an "investment piece" so I have never parted with it
but I must admit that it has not gotten out of the closet much...
until I rethought what I'd wear with it.

I found the scarf and thought that yellow would be a cheerful shade to pair with denim...

then I found a simple cotton U neck T ~ shirt

and it gave me a psychological boost.

Sure I'll still resort to my basic white tanks and Tees underneath the jacket 

and I'll probably wrap this scarf around my neck to perk them up.

I remembered that lovely daughter made these earrings for me several birthdays ago

and they are perfect with the scarf, T~ shirt and jacket.

I love how girly I feel when I put on dangly ear ornamentation.

It's an instant shot of feminine charm.

I bought some new foundation garments

lingerie 

think loads of lace...

you'll need to use your imagination!

I've decided that images of these will remain modestly hidden.

Valisere European Romantic Emotion and Bali 

bras and panties

in shades of white and ecru...

It was long overdue,

my favourite lingerie shop has closed it's doors

 as the English Gal who owned it retired.

I picked up my birthday freebie from Sephora.

Nice that some companies will still give away something for free.

Happy Birthday Sugar 

(lip treatment and gloss)

by Fresh

These are creamy and full of moisturizers.

Fresh is a familiar company name...

I was given the Fresh Brown Sugar Scrub a few Christmases ago and it has become a Hostess shower staple.

I love how fresh I feel after using the scrub. 

It gets my circulation revved up and my skins feels amazing and soft after using it.

(just remember to wipe the tub out after using it or someone's going to slip!)

I have been feeling rather sniffly lately.

My doctor thinks that I have developed allergies...

seasonal air born pollens are the likely culprits.

 Huge amount of empathy now for allergy sufferers...

really had no idea what a drag it would be to be sneezing and stuffed up round the clock.

My eyes have been puffy as a result

not a good look

 so I had to take action.

Sephora 

de ~ puffing roller to the rescue.

So far it's working...

if you suffer from seasonal allergies what have you discovered that helps keep the symptoms at bay?

Please share your thoughts and ideas 

I would love to hear what works for you as it may help me.

Donna asked for the lemon cake recipe 

the one I served at the recent "Tea in the Afternoon"

I have photographed the card and it can be enlarged by clicking on it...

I hope you'll enjoy it!

I used a larger spring form pan than suggested

because the first time I made this recipe it took much longer to cook!

so be prepared to cook it longer if you use the 9 inch pan.

Bon Appetit!

Chemise please!

The weather has been positively beastly and grey and dull and I needed to seek out some comfort and colour.

I've been very frugal lately because we have the renovation underway and there really isn't anything I "need"
well there is one thing!
So I popped on my grey and black feline printed scarf (the one from my tying tutorial) and my grey duffel coat, over top of black boots, skinny jeans, white tank and my black cashmere sweater...it's no wonder I crave colour!

I was on a mission as our stove top kettle finally packed it in after many years of fine service.

I traipsed all over looking for a new kettle that was to my liking. I wanted something simple and durable yet with a bit of style as it sits on the stove top all the time. I looked at Le Creuset's, Staubs, Copco's and some really disappointing flimsy stainless steel models before giving up and resigning myself to finding one another day.

In the meantime I found some new towels on sale Hammam white Turkish towels and they are every bit as nice as the Abyss towels we currently have in The Humble Bungalow which are over 5 years old and starting to look their age. White never stays pure white forever....

Hammam bath sheet and towel

I have on order the face cloths and another bath sheet.

I'll decide if they'll be upstairs or downstairs towels later.

Quality~comfort

soft~supple~cotton~sateen

(this company also made our Hutterite down duvet)

a chemise if you please!

I have had one of these in the past and they are a delight to wear in the warmer days of summer.

It feels like nothing on but there is a wisp of coverage for modesty's sake.

this style has a wee hint of lace

Pepper thinks I brought home a toy for her to play with!

what's inside?

I spy with my little eye...

a furry tail!

Boo!

Remember that Red Huck

The twigs that I thought would bloom...

well they have sprouted leaves not flowers :(

On my way home from town I stopped off at the local Market for some food.

I also picked up my husband's shirts at the cleaners

and popped my head in the Hardware store...

and found the kettle that I needed!

Stainless steel Paderno

guaranteed for 25 years...

my husband's comment was "that kettle will see us out!"

Embracing frugality I made Osso Bucco with beef shanks and the next day I transformed the leftovers into 

Scotch Broth Soup!

simmering and scenting the kitchen

I wish you could taste this bowl of soup.

You'll just have to trust me that it is in fact delicious!

Mr. HB and I watched The Help on the weekend and I loved it.

The book was a good read.

I'd recommend it

 I mentioned it to Mother and she read it in a couple of days!

I hope that your week is off to a great start!