Turnabout Dressing room ~ The quest for a dress...in black.

 

Here I am 

not dressed for a try on

was not expecting to go to the shops.

Wearing my Bermuda shorts, white Tee and oversized Ralph Lauren shirt.

Turnabout is an upscale shop

lots of designer items

posh bags

and

there were a group of tourists

women

who were trying on all the LV bags.

There must have been a dozen LV bags in different style and sizes.

Quite the excited vibe when I entered the store.

I think there were several sales and some very happy customers.

I made the rounds of all the racks on the main floor set aside some clothes by the fitting room then went upstairs to see the markdowns and dedicated style racks.

7 items...

mostly black dresses

Silk loose style with interesting trim and the neck and cuffs.

Didn't feel like a good choice...too boxy.

Price was good but I couldn't see it as a "workhorse" dress.

Fitted too close to the Body...

too snug...not flattering.

Now this one felt better...

a bit longer than I had originally imagined 

but still...

it has side pockets.

Nice jersey knit, good weight, drapes well.

Swing skirt...

very packable.

Got to go out to the bigger mirror to get a better look.

Two women commented right away...

positive feedback

one was a staff member the other was a customer.

The dress set aside while finishing trying on the other garments.

Super soft "sweatshirt" top for cooler shore days.

So cozy, great neutral colour, layering piece.

Under the puffy vest or the jean jacket.

I purchased the top...

and the dress.

Both items were very reasonably priced...

I found a crinkle linen scarf/wrap in the thrift shop on Salt Spring

 when we were there a few weeks ago...

it is black, grey and white wide swatches of colour.

Is very large so I think it will be a warm wrap for evening meals in the dining room.

Have pretty much got my cruise wardrobe ready now.

Not packing a ton of clothes but everything will be versatile enough to mix and match with all the items.

I'll take a few scarves as they add colour, interest and texture.

I bought a pair of New Balance walking shoes, have my Taos black sandals

and the black casual Remonte shoes and I need to decide which dressy pair to pack.

The Ferragamos or the Amalfi's both black with low heels and classic.

Will pack: Lord and Taylor cashmere black turtleneck sweater, 

casual pair and dressy Eileen Fisher black pants.

Blue and white Tommy Bahamas dress

white linen short jacket

Uniqlo tees ~ black and white

white linen Sigrid Olsen shirt

white tank

grey Eileen Fisher linen vest

denim shirt

Betty Barclay navy puffer vest

new sweatshirt

new black dress

Columbia raincoat

denim Angels jean jacket

DKNY bathing suit

nightgown and lingerie

sox

warm hat, scarf and gloves for Glacier Day.

I've been under the weather with a summer cold and cough.

The cough is hanging on much longer than one might expect...

the nurse that listened to my lungs 

said she had the same virus in May and it lasted 3 weeks.

Hopefully it eases soon as I have some plans to visit Salt Spring Island for a few days and I would be very disappointed if I have to cancel my plans.

So I'm taking Zinc and vitamin C

hydrating like crazy and taking life easy.

Looks like Chester is taking life easy :-))

Chester loves to come outside on the deck.

He's an indoor cat so we only permit him out there when we are both out there.

I suppose he is getting his dose of vitamin D

Have you had a summer cold?

Hope you are enjoying a fun summer...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Until next time 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Slow Living ~ Rebuilding my wardrobe one piece at a time

Where to start once the culling, donating, and consigning has commenced?

What are the wardrobe workhorses?

What to buy first?

How many garments does one  actually "need"?

I've purchased several pairs of pants as they were the most needed...

the bagginess of a pair of jeans or pants cannot be camouflaged like a dress.

First purchases = JEANS!

(are you surprised?)

Spanx dark wash high waisted pull on wide leg

Mos Mosh basic jean medium wash cuffs fold up 

Off white "jean style" pants

Black slim pull on ankle length pants

Linen mocha wide leg pants

Slim ankle length cotton cream with a blue stripe

I am happy with all these pants...they fit and look decent.

I've kept several of my X large shirts...

pale and regular wash Gap denim shirts

blue and white oversized striped Ralph Lauren shirt

Most of my Tees still work.

Next order of business is a white linen shirt.

One that is closer to the body but can be used as a layering piece as well.

How long do you think it would take to find the best white linen shirt?

I looked for weeks at the thrift and consignment stores but no luck.

Off to Marshall's...

I took 5 shirts to the change room and tried them all on and critiqued each one.

Two made the cut but I planned to only buy one.

In the end I chose the Sigrid Olsen shirt.

The fit and the details nailed it...also at $39.99 it was a winner!

Shell buttons

cleanly finished

pockets that sit flat

Even stitching

goes with pearls :-))

Pale denim jacket goes with the striped pants

assorted white tops for layering

one striped Saint James cotton tee

black casual waffle dress 

 did not make the cull...

Linen thrifted Habitat black and grey print skirt 

which sits lower on my hips but still works

shown here with a new locally made black linen top.

Black large Fig half zip polo sweatshirt.

I've kept a few dressy dresses in the guest room closet...

so stay tuned for more updates.

Fall and winter will require some warmer layers...

I have 4 sweaters at the ready:

Grey cashmere V neck pullover

Periwinkle cashmere cardigan by Saint James

Black cashmere turtleneck by Lord and Taylor

thick wool vintage grey cable sweater pullover by Gap (menswear) thrifted

Rebuilding a wardrobe is going to be a challenge.

 I am feeling very positive as I know that I don't need to rush.

I'm fussy and frugal and enjoy the hunt and willing to wait for the right piece.

(at the right price)

In the meantime I am leaning heavily on accessories.

A pair of black pants and a white linen shirt.

Add these fun pieces and I'm good to go.

Soft pink linen Italian Scarf/Shawl

Pearls

Chloe fragrance

Thank you for the positive feedback on my last post.

Posting might be sporadic...I feel encouraged to keep my blog going.

Will post on Instagram when I have a new blog post published...

If you enjoy slow living, simple life and easy stress free tidbits

 you are in the right place.

It might be DULL to some 

(you know who you are )

unapologetically 

it's my lifestyle vibe...

I've nothing to prove, no timeline of when to post,

no agenda per say

just random snippets of my simple life. 

Thank you for being here :-))

Take Care

XO

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

May Daze...snapshots and snippets

 

Greetings from The Humble Bungalow.

There's not too much news here...

Still in recovery from my hip replacement and have not been away.

Life is moving quite slowly

but I'm feeling positive and content to be a homebody.

There are always things to do here...

mostly home keeping jobs.

The kettle is often boiling and there's fresh tea in the pot.

Good books at the ready and a cat that loves attention.

I've been enjoying watching You Tube Videos.

So many great people out there that are sharing their homes, gardens and hobbies.

Do you have any favourite You Tube Accounts?

~ Japanese Peony ~

Seen on one of my walks...

At Government House in The Rockland area of Victoria.

Gorgeous details and a pristine white bowl of petals.

Government House Gardens are open to the public most of the year.

The gardens are a mix of Garry Oak meadows, large areas of lawn, rocky outcroppings and perennial borders.

Several ponds with ducks, a rose garden and a fountain. 

Quite a few benches are available to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet.

 Spectacular views of The Olympic Mountains 

across the Strait to Washington, USA.

Native plants and rock and alpine plants have there place here too...

A small museum of vintage clothing is located in the Mews where

there is a charming tea room.

Volunteers help take care of the grounds and there are plant sales during the year.

I like to visit several times each year to see what is blooming.

If you visit Victoria or live closeby this is a great spot for a walk or a picnic.

I snapped a picture of this peony just as I was leaving...

I found this antique platter at Ross Bay Villa's Saturday sale.

I was drawn to the black and white colours and the mottled age of the piece.

I popped this on our arts and crafts wooden shelf in the bathroom.

The sun has been out for a few days and we have been enjoying the warmer weather.

Warm enough for a soft ice cream cone treat!

Chester is loving this warm sunny spot.

He's been finding sunny patches to have a nap in most days...

I'd love to be able to nap like a cat.

I've been bringing out some of my summer clothes...

I love the details on the sleeves of this white linen shirt.

It's a versatile piece...can be worn as a jacket or a simple shirt.

My new denim jacket..by Angels from Marshall's.

I looked at thrift and consignment shops for several weeks but had no luck so I decided to go look at Marshall's and found one for under $40.

The silk scarf is by local artist and crafter Lise Lotte Design.

She has the scarves for sale on her website in 2 sizes...I opted for the smaller one.

It's light and lovely and has a beautiful pattern on it 

she made this using a technique called cyanotype

that harnesses the power of the sun!

Do you watch the Miss Fisher mysteries on TV?

I've seen a few and was delighted when I found a new book.

I love the details, the era that the stories are set in and the opulent fashions.

Am halfway through the book and enjoying the story...

I now can see why the books are so popular.

Have you ever tried to monitor your portions by using a smaller plate or bowl?

This is one of the tricks that I am using to help me from overeating.

My lunch 5 out of 7 days 

is high protein Greek Yogurt, fresh fruit and chopped walnuts.

I vary the fruit so that I am not bored.

I actually feel like I am eating dessert when I eat this lunch...

and it keeps me satisfied until dinner time.

~ Pasta ~

my husbands' favourite food.

To make it satisfying I usually serve it with a salad.

I have 1 cup of noodles and 1 cup of sauce.

The sauce recipe is pretty basic...

1 diced onion

1-2 cloves of garlic minced

2 stalks celery diced

several sliced mushrooms

saute in olive oil on medium heat until soft

stirring often.

Add sliced Italian sausages

(they look like meat balls)

saute until cooked.

Add 1 large large can of minced or chopped tomatoes.

(San Marzano are very flavourful)

salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and dried oregano

(all to your taste)

Simmer for an hour and serve over top of any pasta.

Native Camas is in bloom.

Many Local Victoria Parks have these plants growing...

Beacon Hill, Playfair and Uplands Parks

Lovely spots to walk and enjoy nature at its best.

Wee auricula from the plant sale table at Ross Bay Villa.

Love love love these darling flowers :-))

I am trying to get in as many steps as I can to build my muscles up.

 It is taking a longer time to get my speed back.

As a result I'm feeling stiff and have just purchased a big bag of epsom salts!!

A soak in the tub is on my radar...

Hope that things are going well for you.

Well it's your turn now...

perhaps you can share what you are up to, what you are reading 

or watching on You Tube?

Until next time.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Embracing those Silver Linings ~

 

~ Silver Linings ~

 ~ a consoling or hopeful prospect ~

 ~ a sign of hope, comfort, or a positive advantageous outcome 

that emerges from a difficult, sad or challenging situation ~

Popularized by John Milton in 1634

the phrase refers to the bright silver edge of a dark cloud.

~ Baggu ~

Silver is shiny enough that a crow might want it, bold enough so it is not boring.

I'm embracing the days as I wait for my new hip.

The days seem long and I crave distractions...

the kettle is boiling 24/7 as tea is my tasty elixir.

I have lost 20 pounds...

The new jeans are feeling roomy and I am not wanting to buy more.

There has been a resurgence of chocolate...

slow moments of bliss as the chocolate melts on my tongue.

~ Dressing Room Selfie ~

at Alexa's lovely shop in the Oak Bay Village

a la mode consignment

Can one have too many denim shirts?

(I now have 3)

The 5 year old thrifted Old Navy shirt, the pale Gap shirt new from last year

and now this Eileen denim shirt from Frank & Eileen.

The neckline is lower...the shirt is distressed...

it can be worn as a layer overtop of a camisole for a feminine flair.

Plus it is "pearl friendly!"

Accessories continue to add interest in my wardrobe.

The bird of paradise brooch thrifted from Salt Spring Island.

~ Two  new to me leather belts ~

Ralph Lauren and a British Columbia Big Buckle Belt

Chloe fragrance an relatively new accessory that I am embracing.

Look at those dirty windows!

All the street work and winter wind storms have made a mess of our windows.

Now look at that hyacinth...it's a beauty.

oh and the fragrance...

Speaking of fragrance...

I've bought incense...the same incense that I burned when I was a teenager!

Surprised they still make it after all these years.

Tapio Wirkkala Pollo Bud vase 

(gift from darling daughter)

is in use as my holder until I can find a better option.

Reading The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

it's good so far and I am reading it slowly

my mind is not as focused as it usually is so I am re-reading sections.

I think I am starting to come to terms with the fact that I am going to be having major surgery and undergoing anesthetic...

there is the unknown pain factor post op which I am a little unsettled about too.

The strong prescription drugs are foreign to me so that is another issue altogether.

Basically 

trying to avoid these niggling thoughts and using as many distractions as possible 

to pass my days without obsessing about things which are unknown

things that i have no control over.

I need to have faith.

That's all for now...

not sure when I will post again?

I might not have lots to say as I plan to cocoon in February.

Thank you for stopping by...

Hope that you are staying sane

 not stressing too much about stuff that is beyond your control.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~