OOTD dinner out with the family

This past weekend we took our family our for dinner to celebrate our son's 35th birthday.
The grand children were on their best behaviour and the food was delicious...it was nice to go out.

I wore my grey pearls and vintage Nine West embellished cardigan over a black tank top and velvet pants.

The sweater was a recent purchase from VV Boutique, a large thrift shop in Victoria.

Velvet pants and my ancient Amalfi patent leather shoes.

My idea of one notch up from casual.

Comfy to wear with the children yet dressy enough to go out for dinner.

My meal was tasty and rich.

 I savoured the garlic whipped mound of mashed potatoes!

Sometimes one just MUST splurge.

The next week will involve some healthy lunches.

A simple wrap spread with a couple of tablespoons of hummus and loaded with fresh veggies.

I love this kind of lunch...

the softness of the wrap and the crispy crunch of the veggies

and the bonus is that the hummus is full of protein.

One of the benefits of blogging are the comments and the emails received behind the scenes.

Thank you for your kind words of support and taking time to relate your personal stories.

There is a large community of women out there 

who care for each other 

and 

are not afraid of sharing.

I am grateful and humbled.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Blogging can be a tonic to what ails you...

There have been so many interesting and beautiful scenes along my walks these past few days.

I think of these images when sitting in the chair at the dentist.
I am not very calm when I am at the dentist, especially when having my teeth drilled and prepped for new crowns...for an hour and a half!
I tense up.

My dentist is a kind and gentle practitioner...he works efficiently and talks me through any procedure.
Thankfully today my visit was short as the permanent crowns were put on and I hope that this will be the last major work that I will need...at least for a long while!

My jaw is sore and the crowns are feeling rather sensitive right now,
so writing a blog post should be a tonic and help take my mind off the discomfort.

An absolutely stunning view looking across Juan De Fuca Strait towards Washington State.

I could sit and stare at this vista for hours

 watching the light on the ocean and the changes in the tide.

Deep blood red Hollyhock blooming in a garden nearby our Humble Bungalow.

I would love to have a few of these tall plants in our garden 

they don't seem to thrive where I have tried planting them...

or maybe our soil is not to their liking.

This pretty pink flower caught my eye...

I am not too sure what type of plant this is so I will settle on "beautiful!"

Ross Bay Cemetery

a great place to wander

heritage trees

busy squirrels

song birds

deer

Emily Carr is buried here and people come by to adorn her grave with flowers and natural offerings.

She was a very prolific artist and quite the eccentric character...

she led a very interesting life and has written books as well as her paintings and pottery.

You can read more about Emily Carr here.

She was an amazing woman and one who was quite independent at a time when women were expected to lead traditional lives that consisted of marriage, motherhood and domesticity.

In my bridge group there are several amazing "older" women...

one woman in particular stands out

I am going to call her M.

M is head and shoulders above most women her age that I have met.

 M is 94 years old. 

(maybe I should say 94 years young!)

M plays an excellent hand of bridge, 

she counts and keeps track of ALL the cards that are laid and played.

M will critique a bid or a response if she knows it was not the best choice.

M freely compliments when a great play is made or a contract is bid and made and especially when making over tricks! 

M dresses in classic clothes and wears beautiful vintage gold jewelry.

M wears several diamond rings on her left hand...

they glitter as she plays.

M sits tall in her chair, has great posture and walks gracefully.

M's eyes sparkle and twinkle and when she smiles her wrinkles all crinkle together!

M shares funny and cute jokes and tells us about her past.

I have a lot of time for M and am eager to learn more about her.

 M is a wonderful and gracious example of how women of a certain age can be

 vibrant, energetic and intelligent.

Do you know any amazing older women?

Please enter the giveaway from the previous post before October 30th.

Good luck!

It's a bookish post today...

Our lending library had it's official opening last night...
it was a team effort getting this project off the ground but one that is well worth the effort.

I was asked to cut the ribbon...

and when the doors opened we stuffed the shelves with books.

It's going to be a fun spot to browse for books.

(I think I'll bring my mug of tea over and regularly peruse the titles.)

We celebrated with some appetizers in The Common.

The Common is a spare lot on our street.

There are benches, a table and some swings for the children to play on.

Dinner was served in our Humble Bungalow for the planning group.

Hydrangeas were picked for the table.

We served dinner buffet style and people sat wherever they wanted...

~ The menu ~

Dolmades

Assorted Cheeses and grapes on a platter

Stuffed devilled eggs

Salad

Lasagna

Buns

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Coconut and Chocolate Ice Cream

~ ~ ~

On my reading list are the following books...

I'm taking them on our boat when we go cruising later in the week.

I read Tigers in Red Weather and enjoyed it so I thought I'd take a chance and read her new book.

Ivy's Books on Oak Bay Avenue have a French themed book display...

Heidi was responsible for me buying these two books!

This book was suggested by Madame La-Bas.

My walking partner recommended this book.

Sharon Santoni's new book.

You may know her blog My French Country Home.

I brewed a pot of tea and spent an entire afternoon savouring and reading.

Sharon's friends are a wonderful and very accomplished group of women.

I felt like I was transported back to France...

The pictures are amazing...

and the French chateaus and apartments are enchanting and lavishly decorated.

So much style and creativity is found within this lush book...

If you like to read about French Chic Femmes and their lifestyles

 I think you'd love it.

Anyways that's about it for now...

I'm off for a big walk in the rain now.

I hope this moisture will douse some of the wildfires burning in our province.

Watching my Weight...the UPS and downs.

Maintaining the Weight Watchers goal weight has proved to be a challenge...
my weight is on an upswing and I am not happy about it at all.

My weight fluctuates a bit each time I step on the scale...it might be the time of day or what I'm wearing or if I have just eaten a big meal or skipped a walk.
I weigh myself regularly and I try to be mindful about what I drink and eat.
I need to be accountable to ensure that my weight does not get out of control.
Weight Watchers helps to keep me motivated...and it's discipline that helps me stay on track.

Since returning from Paris I have neglected to go to a meeting or to weigh in....

Life is full of tasty temptations!
I don't like to be too obsessive and avoid everything that is offered to me.

I need to remind myself of the rules.

There are many strategies that come in handy when dining out.
~ choosing low point foods during the day so a splurge at dinner time is within the WW range
~ eating a small snack to ward off hunger pangs when you know that dinner out will be late
 it's difficult avoiding the bread baskets when you are ravenous!
~ you may even amp up your exercise in anticipation of a colossal caloric encounter
~ order dessert and share it...take a few bites and savour the flavour
~ my husband often orders fries which I LOVE so I'll sample a few of his instead of ordering my own
~ develop a love for colourful salads and add some lean protein on the side
~ ask to have the dressing served on the side
~ if you know where you are going to be dining go online and check to see if their menu has          nutritional information on their website so that you can determine which options would be best
~ opt for baked, broiled or grilled over battered and deep fried foods
~ put your knife and fork down often and chat over dinner
~ avoid over eating...take home leftovers for lunch the next day
~ if you really want to indulge, do so and then get right back on track the next day!

I try to eat simple and healthy meals.

Island grown strawberries and plain yogurt.

To start my day I often opt for fresh fruit and yogurt.
Danone make a low point count one with Stevia as the sweetener...
Weight Watchers logo and point count is stamped on the tub.

Silver Hills Little Big Bread makes a great WW friendly base for a sandwich.

I have loaded this bread with grainy Dijon mustard, a slice of cheese, lettuce and pickle slices.

Some days I opt for tomatoes, cucumbers, sprouts and slices of lean chicken or turkey.

I find these sandwiches satisfy and I rarely feel hungry before dinner time.

On days when I do experience hunger pangs I will snack on an apple with two wedges of Laughing Cow low fat cheese or a few carrots and celery sticks with a couple of tablespoons of hummus.

Dinner usually consists of lean meat, vegetables and a salad.

I rarely eat potato chips or other salty snacks.

Cookies and cakes are a rare treat.

Chocolate, however, is eaten in moderation and enjoyed immensely!

One thing that keeps me on track are my walks.

Walking = exercise.

We live so close to the ocean and the scenery is beautiful 

so it makes my job of getting out the door and "just doing it" much easier.

Walking with a friend or my spouse is enjoyable as we chat while we walk.

When I am on my own I seek out the beautiful details along the way.

Losing weight and keeping it off is not easy.

The rewards ARE worth the effort.

Less hip and joint pain have been an unexpected bonus.

I feel more confident in my appearance and my doctor and I are both happy that I no longer require high blood pressure medication.

I could not have lost the 30 + pounds if I had not taken a leap and joined Weight Watchers.

I went alone because no one I knew was interested in going...

most of my friends are slim and trim and keep active and are fit.

I met a wonderful and supportive group of women leaders and "losers" and we all attended the meetings with the same goals in mind.

If you are struggling while trying to lose weight on your own and need some help

 I'd suggest you attend one of the WW meetings...

you'll find out how easy the program is and the only thing you need to do is follow the rules...

and in time you'll succeed.

It took me the better part of a year to get to my weight goal.

It's time for me to get on track again and go back!

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well."

~ Hunter S Thompson ~

Hope you have a great weekend!

Paris Ooh La La Tour details ~ Paris OOTD.

The Ooh La La Tour was filled to the brim with fun and excitement and did not disappoint.
We were in good hands with author Jamie Cat Callan and Art historian Elyse Rivin guiding us along the way...they had arranged everything in advance and all our metro, bus and museum passes were ready when we checked into our hotel.
We walked, explored, shopped, and dined and covered a lot of territory from the Luxembourg Gardens to Versailles.

The Luxembourg Gardens on a rainy day walk...

We enjoyed the museums and found the food in the cafeterias particularly tasty.
The Musee D'Orsay, with their wonderful collection of Impressionist art was my favourite and there was a Bonnard exhibit on display which was an unexpected bonus.

One evening before sunset we took a bateau cruise on the Seine River and took photos of the Eiffel Tower as it lit up.

Some special features of the tour included a wine tasting, a visit to The Fragonard museum, The Cluny museum, chocolate tasting at Chez Richart, Opera Garnier Tour, a visit to Madame Cadolle Lingerie (Madame's grandmother invented the bra!), Palais Royale, Kate Kemp-Griffin told us all about the sensual art of lingerie at the Bon Marche and told us what to look for when buying a well fitting bra, we brunched with the chic and savvy (adorable) Alois Guinut in The Marais
who shared her secrets for Dressing like a Parisian...

So much was packed into our week and it was an amazing experience...
With a group of like minded passionate and energetic women who all came together to thoroughly savour their time in Paris it was a recipe for success.
(we laughed, we cried and we bonded)

The Cluny Museum 

(formerly a Roman Bath)

inside hang the famous tapestries of the Lady and the Unicorn.

(no photos of the delicate tapestries were permitted)

I fell in love with the architecture and the ornamentation.

just look at the door details...

Can you imagine how many hours or years it would take to create these buildings?

(and they are still standing today!)

A scene from Woody Allen's movie, Midnight in Paris was filmed here at The Polidor.

I wore the same few clothes over and over during my 3 weeks away 

I relied heavily on accessories to make them look different.

I hand washed my tops and lingerie in shampoo and hung them to dry in my bathroom.

Most of them dried overnight.

The black cowl necked sweater by Wooden Ships transitioned easily from casual to dressy when I paired it with my black pants or my black skirt.

We dined at Les Editeurs one evening for dinner and this book somehow managed to pop off the shelf behind where we were seated and fell into my hands...

(Jamie Cat Callan snapped this photo)

The view from the restaurant...

love the mauve blossoms on the Jacaranda tree.

A wonderful shot of our group as we depart...

au revoir.

I've got a few more Paris posts in the works and there's more ahead from the beautiful and enchanting Village of Auvillar

and my adventures in the South of France.

Folly and the Wisdom of Women

Wisdom's folly...

"The unexamined life is not worth living." 
~ Plato ~

Folly definition as it appears online on  Merriam-Webster's dictionary...


fol·ly noun \ˈfä-lē\
: the lack of good sense or judgment

: a foolish act or idea : foolish behavior

: a very unusual or fancy building that was built in a garden for decoration or amusement in the past

On my 10K walk along the seafront today thoughts bubbled up....
and I am still digesting them.

OOTD
(The firm's annual staff party and what I wore to a penthouse suite overlooking the inner harbour)

Banana Rebublic tweed dress
Susan Bristol black sweater jacket
black fish net hose
Calvin Klein kitten heel pumps
gumball pearl necklace

My choice is rather pedestrian, nothing out of the ordinary...

Reminiscent of what Emma Thompson wore to her husband's staff party in "Love Actually"

(one of my favourite holiday films)

I am dressed for comfort

not looking for attention

with greying hair

laugh lined eyes

progressive glasses

a slacking jaw

a sense of humour

life experiences

grandchildren

a humble life

a wonderful husband

many blessings

good friends

I am happy to be mingling with the guests 

sipping wine and sampling the hors' d oeuvres...

I feel comfortable in my own skin...

the French have a saying for that...

~ "Bien dans sa peau: being comfortable in your own skin" ~

I might have waited almost 60 years to feel this way.

It is a wonderful feeling

and I feel immense gratitude.

I am reminded of a lovely woman that I worked with for 17 years who lived her life honestly 

she has had a huge influence on how I view life.

( I have never told her and I really must!)

She is an older woman who dresses to please herself

reads voraciously

attends many art and cultural events in town,

is on the pulse of what is "happening about town"

keeps fit by walking

spends time with her family and grandchildren

travels

gives of herself to the community

tends her garden

entertains

is enthusiastic about life

is fully present in her daily round

loves tea

(owns many beautiful china teacups and saucers)

has struggled with her health and never complains

she is dignified

elegant

is calm and centered

and she meditates every day.

I think if we pay close attention to women of this calibre that we will be able to pass on some of this wisdom to the young women who are following in our footsteps...

I'm looking and listening to the wise women in my midst...

I hope to keep learning.

"A wise woman wishes to be no one's enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone's victim."

~ Maya Angelou ~