OOTD ~ Valentine's Day

What to wear for Valentines Day?
I opted for a pop of red...

Jeans ~ Vintage America

Shirt ~ Tommy Hilfiger

Shoes ~ Joesph Seibel

I love these jeans

they fit well and are super soft

the length is perfect for my short frame.

I have another pair of these, in a different style

they are getting really faded and worn in

I've worn them SO MUCH!

I felt like upping my game a bit and purchased a new pair.

The pearls that my husband gave me many years ago on Valentine's Day.

We walked to our local pub in the village for a date night dinner.

A lot of people had the same idea and it was incredibly LOUD.

Hard to hear above the laughter 

and

with what we considered shouting at the nearby tables...

(some had obviously imbibed a bit too much)

We watched as they made their way to the exit and hoped that they were not driving home impaired.

The food was delicious and we both enjoyed our meal.

It was a lovely treat not to cook dinner.

Ballet flats are comfy to walk in and look great with ankle length jeans.

I am going on Jamie Cat Callan's Paris Tour this coming September and I am so excited to see her again and meet all the other women on the tour.

We all had such fun last time in 2015.

She has a couple of spaces left if you are interested.

Rose Hip with a raindrop...

a pop of colour on a grey day.

I love good chocolate and Pender Island has a wonderful shop.

One can sit and have tea or coffee and a sweet treat.

I'm looking forward to Summer 

when I can use this vintage bag that I bought a few years ago on Ebay.

I must get some things accomplished today so I will close for now...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

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~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wearing red lipstick in my current favourite shade.

Luscious rose hips...

XO

OOTD basic black for evening.

Recent purchase a Lace top by Dex

(on sale and heavily discounted!)

Black Eileen Fisher pants

Lace top by Dex

Sweater a vintage Susan Bristol that I have had for several decades!

Vintage Ferragamo shoes

Socks by French Company Berthe

(mismatched hose which are rather fun to wear!)

Putting my best foot forward...

I love the detail at the bottom of the top.

We put up the tree and I unpacked some festive accent pieces.

We like to keep our decorations simple as the cats think they are play toys!

Chester still climbs the tree :-((

Finally had my hair trimmed...

its been ages growing the short style out.

Planning to grow it a wee bit longer still and with any luck it should be where I want it to be by next Spring.

The stylist used a flat iron to smooth out the waves.

We enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at my husband's staff party last evening.

Julie, my friend and recent travel companion, made a 7 course dinner for us all.

It was amazing and there were wine pairings with each course!!!

Hope you are enjoying the festive season so far...

Have you been shopping your closet or buying new clothes?

What are your favourite things to wear for the holidays?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Trying harder to budge the winter weight gain...shoes, salads and a Fitbit

One step at a time...

Walking in comfortable sneakers is my idea of luxury!

These New Balance shoes are unbelievable!

I think its the memory foam...

I finally broke down and bought a Fitbit.

I opted for the new model Inspire HR.

So many women I know love them and say that they really help motivate them 

to walk longer, farther and to stay active.

They also record sleep, 

the length of time slept, 

the sleep stages...

awake, REM, light and deep.

You can track weight, water, heart rate, calories, steps, kms walked or run.

I've noticed that I am more mindful since wearing mine.

I'm going to track my weight too and see if there is any change.

The weather has been wonderful this weekend and I spent quite a few hours outside pulling weeds and deadheading the roses.

Marigold the Mouse designed and created by the talented artist Robyn 

at Willie Woolly

is enjoying the Climber Royal Sunset.

Its a fragrant frothy rose that grows up on a trellis on our deck overlooking the back garden.

Arugula, red onions, strawberries and goat cheese salad.

a light vinaigrette dressing and lunch is served!

Lunch out with Mr. HB at a new waterfront bistro

Boom and Batton

Mega yachts 

a tasty salad and a glass of wine

Reading this humorous book by Olivier Magny.

I think I may have been to his wine bar in Paris when I was there on tour in 2015.

We went to a tasting in a cavern that looks exactly like the pictures online and he must have been the sommelier who led the tasting as he looks the same!

He's written other books which I might buy:

Into Wine: An invitation to Pleasure

WTF? What the French

How was your weekend?

What are you reading?

Do you wear a Fitbit?

Has it been a game changer for your fitness regime?

Have you had difficulty leaving comments on my blog?

I have had a few readers email saying that they cannot comment anymore and I have no idea what is wrong as I have changed nothing!

Try Bloglovin where I also have the blog listed on their platform.

I've got to close for now as I am having guests for dinner tonight and need to prepare a few more dishes.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD...

Mother's Day 

OOTD

NYDJ boyfriend style

Josef Seibel red ballet flats

Saint James Striped Top

My hair has more silver tinsel these days...

I like the effect and its natural!

You may notice that my cheeks are still swollen from the YAG laser treatment.

The capillaries that were zapped are red but will fade in the coming weeks.

I still may need a few more treatments to get on top of the issue.

Brunch at The Surly Mermaid in Sidney.

The "best ever" Eggs Benedict

they make it with a thin biscuit and served it with truffle potatoes.

NOM NOM

Mr. HB enjoyed the Korean BBQ chicken wings.

What a feast!

Driftwood Beach artist has expanded her work with the bird installation.

Sadly, her whale tail sculpture was stolen a few weeks ago...

who would do such a thing?

Last week the weather was been particularly warm 

almost hot...

today it has cooled to about 12 degrees Celsius.

I am reading Educated by Tara Westover

it's a memoir...

often disturbing. 

 I am finding it difficult to put down.

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Graphic Tees? Do you wear them?

We've been busy here in The Humble Bungalow

lots of things have kept me away from the computer.

Sunny days for long walks with friends

visits from the grandchildren

tidying up the garden

planting flowers.

There have been odd jobs, decluttering, repair projects and more...

Today the electrician was here installing some task lighting in the kitchen.

After he left I went to the mall to buy some new socks.

Why do socks wear out so fast?

I think its because I don't bulk buy socks and so they get worn a lot!

I bought new socks 

(mission accomplished!)

Came home with a new walking/yoga/workout outfit.

Graphic tees are popular...

especially for women of a certain age!

I have been relucutant to get on the bandwagon...

until today when I spied this top.

What are your opinions on graphic tees?

Leave a comment and we can chat...

Capri Yoga pants

Karl Lagerfeld Tee

I may wear this with my jeans under a sweater or jacket.

The fabric is super soft and it is weighty enough that it skims the body rather than clinging like some fabrics tend to do.

You can see that the black and whites are still the main players in my wardrobe.

It's so difficult to change my stripes...

Zebras are so stylish!

Flip Flops 

for our summer cruise.

Still looking for a bathing suit cover up...

Must close for now as I am off to the travel agent to pay the balance of our cruise.

Hope that you are well and finding small snippets of Joy in your daily round.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD....flowers, friends and a fabulous book!

OOTD 

Ralph Lauren skinny knit tweedy pants

Black Symplii tunic top

Red Joesph Seibel ballet flats

(vintage carpet)

I like having a few colourful accessories 

they elevate the basic black and grey garments that I regularly wear.

Juicy red rose hips...

I have heard that when the hips form early in the season 

 it means we will have a cold harsh winter...

The sun is shining today and there are blue skies.

Yesterday I helped a new friend move into her new condo.

She is a lovely woman, a recent widow who is relocating from Vancouver to Victoria where she has family.

I admire her in so many ways...

she has left behind many friends but is embracing this move.

Her energy and enthusiasm is contagious!

This past month she has been discovering the amenities that Victoria offers

exploring new groups

cycling club, bridge, yoga, french lessons and a french conversational group.

We have met up for walks and coffee and there will be future lunches 

bridge games and perhaps we will go to the theatre.

I also discovered that she is a painter and has sold many paintings...

she is very modest about her work.

She plans to take a class or two this winter and I am considering joining her.

She will be unpacking for the next week or two 

fluffing and arranging her furniture and hanging her art in her light filled condo.

This pretty tea cup and saucer was a gift...

I love the gold polka dots.

This book is quite the page turner...

I am almost finished it and can recommend it

it is very intense and so well written.

I will finish it this afternoon while the white Ektorp slipcovers are in the wash!

Hope your week is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~