Paris purchases...

Paris was full of wonderful galleries, churches, museums, cafes, bistros, gardens and parks.
It goes without saying that Paris has wonderful shops and boutiques and I ventured into many of them...
One of the gals on the tour and I took a leisurely stroll through the Chanel boutique and had a browse at the clothing...which was lovely but exceeded my budget and the garments do not suit my retired lifestyle.

We popped into the fabulous boutique ~ Didier Ludot.

They sell vintage and gently used designer goods.

If you want to purchase a Hermes Kelly bag this is a great place to look!

Didier Ludot stock luxury goods and there are lots of tempting treasures inside the store!

The white cocktail dress would be fun for a summer party.

 And how about lunch with the ladies in the red Chanel suit?

There were so many shops with gorgeous clothes...

I just did not devote time for much shopping.

I wasn't on a mission for clothes...

I wanted to experience the art, history and culture of Paris.

I bought this vintage Jeanne Lanvin silk scarf at a pop up vintage shop in BHV.

I bought this striped top in COS in the Marais.

The Hermes scarf which I showed in a previous post was my big purchase.

(a wearable souvenir!)

I bought this fun grey mesh sweater and silver necklace

in the Marais at a shop whose name I have forgotten.

Since I have been home I have been lusting after a black leather jacket like those I saw women wearing in Paris...

and my lovely daughter saw this one on sale and the rest is history.

I bought this rustic vintage jug in the south of France.

I wanted to have something to remind me of the countryside and this will be perfect for my roses.

Shepherd hut

seen on the drive from the Pech Merle Caves to the enchanting Village of Saint Cirq-Lapopie.

Signage adjacent to the hut.

Very basic shelter...and at this altitude it would make for a very cold night.

The stone buildings are so quaint and picturesque.

For gifts 

I bought French soaps, chocolates, magnets with the Eiffel Tower depicted on them...

 hand made semi precious beaded bracelets, a pottery necklace, a book for the grandchildren, scents from Hermes for my sister and husband.

(This post was in response to Jill's question ~ and thank for posing the question Jill!)

Thoughts on Personal Taste....Questions to Ask Yourself ~ Starring You.

In this series "Starring You" let's take a look at accessories...
they offer the best and most affordable option to add that authentic and personal touch.

Consider for example that you and another person are both wearing the same outfits...
Let's use a white top and a pair of black trousers as an example.

You are both unique.
Unless you are identical twins, of course you'll look different.
So right off the bat ~ you are "YOU."
YOU may want to further personalize your individual look by adding accessories....
YOU may not...
and the good news is that it's up to YOU.

Tilda Swinton is a prime example of someone who is a minimalist when it comes to accessorizing and yet she makes a very bold impression...
she gets noticed for her personal style even when she is modeling designer clothing.
We "see" Tilda, not just the clothes.

So how do YOU add flair that is honest and authentic?
Are YOU in tune to what YOU want to add to make the outfit "YOURS?"
If not...you might be asking yourself why not.
Where to start?

What do I need to know about myself and how do I go about excavating my personal taste and unique look?

Something to think about before you embark on the journey of exploration.

 Consider your lifestyle and personality and how they impact they way that you dress?

Do you want to make a BOLD style statement or are you comfortable BLENDING in?

"Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered." 

~ Giorgio Armani ~

The "Real You" is in there...you just need to explore and investigate.

This part should be fun.

It took me quite some time to go through the discovery process...

I visited thrift shops, galleries, markets, read magazines, blogs and books before feeling confident about my choices.

I love Hermes silk scarves, vintage jewelry and pearls.

Your choices will be completely different from mine but that is the whole point of the exercise.

There are so many wonderful ways to put your personal touch on an outfit.

Ebay and Etsy offer a huge range of items...

Carve out a day just for yourself

take time to savour and wander through the shops.

Ethnic, thrift, and antique shops are a great source of unique and beautiful pieces.

Don't rush or you might miss something...

it takes time to discover what makes your heart beat a little faster.

You may already have an inherited stash of family jewels and if so, lucky you!

There may be a paste brooch from the 1930's or a stunningly beautiful necklace that you can adopt as your signature piece...

Sherman brooches are popular here, are of good quality, and beautifully designed.

 Sherman jewelry has increased in value and is highly sought after by collectors.

The local antique mall Vanity Fair has quite a few Sherman pieces for sale.

If you are passionate about designer goods you'll definitely need a larger budget.

If your budget is smaller your work will take longer.

Think of the process as an adventure.

 You may never snag that coveted piece but you might be surprised at what you discover along the way.

Consignment shops, estate sales and ebay will most likely be your best bet.

I tried on a gorgeous tweed wool Chanel jacket with champagne hued silk lining

 in a consignment shop several years ago

the price was a bit high but within my budget 

but sadly it was too snug...

(it would fit me now)

It might sound silly but I have regretted not purchasing it.

I can imagine myself wearing it with a simple white tee and dark wash jeans!

You may want to start your journey of personal discovery with a signature scent.

Meander through the department stores and try on some perfume.

Ask for samples to take home and wear them awhile to see how they react with your chemistry.

It's a great money saver testing them out before investing in the full sized bottle.

"A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika. 

We all need a splash of bad taste—it's hearty, it's healthy, it's physical. 

I think we could use more of it. 

No taste is what I'm against." 

~ Diana Vreeland ~

It's all about YOU!

Excavating your personal style should be fun...

it will evolve over the years as you age and your lifestyle changes.

It's important to remember to have fun on the journey...

and getting to know yourself better can be a real eye opener.

  "Simple Abundance" by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

Is a great read and a wonderful resource on the road to self awareness.

“The way you reach that awareness is through an inner journey that brings about an emotional, psychological, and spiritual transformation. A deep inner shift in your reality occurs, aligning you with the creative energy of the Universe. Such change is possible when you invite Spirit to open up the eyes of your awareness to the abundance that is already yours.”

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~

Darn it Kate Spade I am in lust!

Do you have a week that flies by so fast that you are left wondering where the time went?
So much living gets packed into a week and we measure a lot of our success by what we get accomplished.
A lot happens in those 7 days. chapters are read, meals get made, floors get swept, family is tended to, blog posts are published and pets are cuddled.
On top of the domestics duties I make certain that I take my walks as they are a priority, I practise some Yoga and there's the mandatory time set aside to savour many restorative cups of tea so it is not all work and drudgery!
This week I have been browsing online at the Spring collections...which can be a wee bit tempting.

One NEEDS to make some time for fun...a girl can dream...

I have been looking online at Kate Spade's gorgeous website and lusting after some of her scarves and shoes.

There is something refreshing about her line of goods...it's a little bit girly and whimsical.

I don't know if she would take that as a compliment but I do mean it in the nicest possible way.

I am so in love with this beautiful Giverny scarf.

If I still feel passionate about it after a few days I may buy it, but in the meantime I am still very happy with my white linen scarf.

L'Occitane almond milk is my favourite body moisturizer...

I slather it on my legs and arms after showering and it has a very subtle scent.

A little goes a long way so a jar will last many months...it's a little bit of every day luxury.

I think this scarf was an Eileen Fisher from several seasons past.

The versatility of white was the reason that I chose this at the time.

I like it for summer and it goes so well with so many things that I own.

You can use it as a shawl over a sleeveless top or dress and it is very feminine.

Now back to that gorgeous Giverny scarf!

it has such a pretty pattern that I can envision wearing with many of my solid tanks and tops.

It would be a versatile accessory and one that I could keep for years to come.

My birthday is in a few days so maybe I will splurge.

It's not a milestone birthday so there will not be a lot of fuss and bother.

My husband and I will go out for a meal, perhaps with our best friends.

There is a brunch planned for the weekend following my weekday birth date.

Now getting back to that scarf...

Sometimes a gal just wants to give in and throw caution to the wind and buy something fun,

besides do I always need to be sensible and thrifty?

I keep seeing pretty patterns for Spring in all the fashion magazines that I flip through...

have I convinced you?

Maybe you'll buy it and I can live vicariously through you!

What are you tempted to splurge on?

Have you got your eye on something to add to your wardrobe this season?

Pearls...

Puttering around the Humble Bungalow cleaning and sorting some neglected drawers and closets.

 I found myself staring at my pearls. 

I must commend Mother Nature, as she makes such beautiful gems.

The creamy iridescence glows from within each pearl and when strung together they are like wee lights illuminating the strand.

A joy to wear.

Outside weather was beastly cold and grey.

Wind and pelting raindrops beat like a drum against the windows.

 The Humble Bungalow was looking dim and I was feeling it was too dark and gloomy.

Looking on the bright side of cheer I wasted no time in lighting a scented candle.

I grabbed a handful of my pearls and started playing around with the camera.

I have a real weakness for scented candles and find myself buying them up at Home Sense when they are on sale.

 Mr. HB finds them a bit over the top...so I usually enjoy them when I am home alone.

I will be wearing these when I finish taking pictures.

Nothing cheers a girl up like some pretty ornamentation.

In the case of pearls I like to think more is better.

Fresh water

salt water

 cultured classic round

whimsical baroque's

mixed together in several pearly shades.

They do wonders to light up one's face and look especially flattering in candle light.

I am enjoying my pearls mixed with the sweet scent of lilies.

The inclement weather does not bother me much when cocooning indoors with a hot cup of tea

two sleepy cats nearby, a good book to read and a warm scent wafting from a pure white light of a candle.

Hope you are keeping out of mischief.

If I didn't have a good book on the go I might have been tempted to do some online shopping today.

Goodness knows THAT could spell trouble with a capital T.

Spending time gazing at gorgeous things that we don't really need is not the best way to spend a few hours.

 Are you tempted by online shopping?

You know what they say...

"Spend in haste repent at leisure."

This week I met up with a reader and her husband who were here waiting for their flight to Europe.

It was a delight to spend some time with K and B and chat while sipping tea and coffee at Murchies.

You might remember that she generously offered to give me her copy of Mamma Never Cooked Like This.

 I could not find a copy locally despite months of searching.

Thank you so much K!

I will be wasting no time in making some of Susan's recipes.

Turns out that K gets her hair cut here in town and makes the pilgrimage every other month so I am hoping that we will get together again when they return from their 3 month holiday.

I am so grateful to continue to meet and connect with people through this crazy world of blogging.

Take care as you navigate through your week...don't forget to smile.

Hostess

XO

OOTD...simple at home style.

It's a slow mo day here in The Humble Bungalow just me and the cats.
The laundry pile is getting smaller, the silver is getting a polish and the kettle has been on at least 5 times today.

It feels good keeping things simple and sensible and not getting caught up in the rat race.
That's the best thing about retirement ~ time to go at a slower pace ~ my kind of luxury.

I can tell that there are some pretty stressed out folks out and about these days.

Like the fellow that drove right in front of me and took the parking spot that I had been waiting for...and had my turn indicator on signalling that is where I was intending to go as soon as the car in the spot backed out....

Or the elderly gentleman who deliberately budged right in front of me in the line up at the pharmacy to buy his lottery tickets!
I very nearly said something but thought why get all ruffled up over such a trivial thing?
Really people where are your manners?

Have you noticed how many people are rushing around and getting upset?
I have heard some pretty rude customers grumble at the check out clerks in the grocery store.
It's enough to make one cringe.
Mother always said "if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all."

It would be so much friendlier if we could all keep our tempers in check and relax.
Are you carving out a bit of restorative time to nourish your spirit and soul?
Something soothing perhaps?

I took an extra few minutes in the shower and exfoliated using this yummy sugar scrub.

I found it at Shoppers Drug Mart for under $10.

It softens and has a lovely scent.

Mother, my sister and I walked the Esplanade in Oak Bay the other evening and this beautiful sunset graced the sky.

Amalfi vintage shoes...soo comfy.

OOTD

(excuse the grainy image as the lighting is really not great by the mirror)

Skinny jeans g21

Amalfi shoes ~ thrifted

Lands' End navy cashmere sweater ~ thrifted

Champion white top

My house "uniform" is basic and simple.

I have no idea how old these shoes are..

they remind me of the purple Ferragamo's I loved and had years ago, the very ones I wore holes in the soles!

I couldn't resist this orchid last weekend at the market.

I don't think of orchids when I think of Christmas, but my cats leave these alone.

 I think the value of cheerful blooms can never be underestimated.

"Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~

Be kind to others and be gentle with yourself.

Hostess

Bits and Bobs...Books and Bags in the Bungalow.

It has been a quiet day here in The Humble Bungalow.
It's one of the first days that I gave myself permission to just relax and have a slow day. A guilt free day of indulging in reading and drinking tea with no thoughts of jumping up and tackling the domestics.

I ate a variety of fresh fruit for breakfast and lunch. 

(no WW points!)

I splurged and ate sushi for dinner.

I've rediscovered our local library.

They have their collection online so it makes it easy to peruse the collection.

 Holds can be placed with the click of the mouse. 

I have been reserving many books...from home decor to entertaining, fashion to food and novels.

Quotes from the book jacket.

"A good handbag makes the outfit."

"Only the rich can afford cheap shoes."

"The only thing worse than being skint is looking as if you're skint."

For centuries, an interest in clothes has been dismissed as the trivial focus of vain, empty headed women.

And yet clothes matter, because how we choose to dress ourselves defines our identity. From the immigrant arriving in a new country to the teenager who needs to be a part of the fashion pack or the woman turning forty who must reassess her wardrobe. the truth is that how we look and what we wear tells a story.

And what a story. The Thoughtful Dresser tells us how a woman's hat saved her life in Nazi Germany; looks at the role of department stores in giving women a public place outside the home; celebrates the pleasure of adornment; and savours the sheer joy of finding the perfect dress.

Here is the thinking woman's guide to our relationship with what we wear: why we want to look our best and why it matters.

In this book almost 1500 of the world's perfumes are reviewed.

There are only a handful that the experts claim are masterpieces.

I've made a list of a few that I would like to sample.

This handbag is new to me...

A lovely gift from my daughter who regularly shops in the local thrift stores.

The brand is Valentina and it is made in Italy.

The leather is sturdy and unscuffed and I love the shape and style.

Thank you J!

Elle Canada has a couple of interesting You Tube Video's I thought you might like.

 How to Tie an Hermes scarf and 15 accessories that you will wear forever.

What perfume do you love to wear and do you have an all time favourite?

Hostess

XO

OOTD ~ the basic black dress

The basic black dress has been my best friend throughout my recent weight loss experience.
I have been alternating wearing two Gilmour black dresses...one is to the knee and the other one you see here.

This Gilmour bamboo shift has been worn many many times in the past 4 months...
the fabric is cool and comfortable in the heat and the style is simple yet able to be worn for day or evening.

The hemline is slightly higher in the front ~ longer in the back

It is versatile enough to wear to the beach or to a BBQ...

when I am running errands I wear a summer weight cotton cardigan over top by Velvet.

The fabric is weighty and drapes beautifully as it skims the body.

I wore this OOTD out for lunch with Mother.

In this picture you can see why older women often wear scarves and turtle necks...

it's probably the reason Nora Ephron wrote her book...

I Feel Bad About My Neck.

 I miss her writing...

Seriously though, 

do we honestly believe that we are going to look the same as we did when we were in our 20's or 30's?

If we do I think we are kidding ourselves.

Either that or totally brainwashed by the advertising that we are bombarded with in almost every magazine...

baby boomers are the largest demographic group so you'd think the pendulum might shift sometime soon.

My grandmother was a wonderful woman filled with passion, wit and energy.

I never asked her, but I would be surprised if she looked in the mirror and lamented on her wrinkles and slack jaw.

Her no nonsense approach to life was an inspiration.

In her day she did not wear much make up...

 a bit of red lipstick, perhaps a light dust of face powder and a spritz of Yardley's lavender scent.

She was the wholesome soap and water kind of gal who used Noxema...

do you remember the blue jar and their signature scent?

(I think of her whenever I get a whiff of that scent.)

Look at the grey creeping in...

I like to think of them as tinsel highlights.

I've been keeping my hair bobbed quite short throughout this process.

I explained to my hairdresser that I did not want to look like a skunk as we transition to grey.

Having had my hair coloured for so many years I was not sure how much grey to expect...

 so far it's just a smattering here and there.

Still it is an obvious indicator of the aging process...

but it's an honest reflection of myself.

I am comfortable in my own skin.

It might have taken me a few years to get here but thankfully I have finally arrived.

 I will need to add some brighter shades to my winter wardrobe...

perhaps a plum or robin's egg blue cashmere cardigan 

to wear with jeans and the black pants in smaller sizes that I still need to buy.

I have been wearing softer lip colours 

(not the nude that they are showing on the runways though as I look positively ill wearing that shade!) 

I love the creamy texture of the Revlon Colourburst Lip Butters.

They are full of moisture and silky on the lips with a lovely assortment of colours.

The price is good too, a budget friendly basic.

I've been noticing a lot of DD or double denim in the stores and in magazines...

not too sure if I will embrace this trend 

as I can still hear my lovely daughter admonishing me when I wore it many years ago!

"Too matchy matchy Mom!"

Things that match top and bottom are what old ladies wear!

Her style expertise has stood me in good stead over the years and I appreciate her honesty.

Speaking of DD 

I think the cosmetic industry has taken on a new way of marketing their products...

rather like the alphabet mystery writer Sue Grafton.

 AA (anti-aging)

BB (beauty balm)

CC (colour correcting)

DD (dynamic do-all)

Do you think they are working on an EE cream?

I might suggest Excellent Epidermis...

If you are a cosmetics company executive please feel free to email me if you'd like to use my idea...

I am "retired" and living on a pension and I am in dire need of a new basic wardrobe...

Today it feels a bit like Fall is in the air so these LBD's will be far too chilly to wear much longer.

Hope that your week is off to a great start!

Hostess

My recipe for relaxation...

I don't know how you handle stress and fatigue.
Some people swear by aerobic exercise and others like myself want to cuddle up, keep warm and cocoon.

Having gone through many stressful patches in my life I feel that I can offer some advice...
well maybe not advice, just what has worked for me personally.

A wise woman told me that she turns off the TV, lights a scented candle and goes to bed early after a warm soak in the tub, with a mug of tea, a chocolate bar and a stack of magazines!

Doesn't this sound delicious?

I find a soak in the tub so restorative.
There is something so soothing about lying in the hot water eyes closed with negative thoughts floating away
as the scent and softness of bath salts work their magic.

I have a recipe that I love to make that I want to share with you...
because I believe that women need to stick together in times of trouble.
(and in times of peace, let's be honest we need to embrace our friendships and support each other in this world)

Behold the salts!

White fluffy towels are a luxe staple here in The Humble Bungalow.

My "soaker tub" a deep claw foot that I can recline in...

I love geranium, clary sage, neroli and rose blended together.

It is Bliss in a jar!

I do not own a bed jacket like my Mother had when I was growing up...

(her's was quilted pink satin and I thought it was so elegant)

so this striped terry top works well

(Joe Fresh)

it keeps me warm while I sit up in bed perusing the magazines and sipping my tea...

which at night is decaf and you'll have to trust me there are no chocolates in sight!

While I do love a good quality chocolate I much prefer potatoes!

It must be my Irish background...

seriously if I need comfort food I make potatoes.

In a heavy pan like my Le Crueuset

saute in a wee bit of butter

sliced onions, a few pieces of leftover carrots and potatoes quartered.

Cook over medium heat until hot.

Season with a fresh grating of pepper and a tiny bit of salt.

Enjoy!

BTW

I am not under any particular stress at the moment

I am aware that there are quite a few bloggers out there 

who are currently "under the weather" for various reasons.

If you have a few moments please share with us how you handle times of stress...

what do you do?

Have a fabulous weekend!