Closing in on 55 and pushing the fashion envelope....ever so slightly.

NEWS FLASH...... Rumour has it that The Hostess of the Humble Bungalow is going to be celebrating her 55th birthday early next month. (It's true she is a Pisces)

I am excited and have a few plans up my sleeve...HINT HINT (and they all involve retail therapy!)
There are a few numbers on the birthday scale that are more alarming than others, and to me, 55 sounds like it has the ability to ring ALL the BELLS!!! Ding Dong X 55.
I think it is because I am eligible to take early retirement (and receive a reduced pension with the bridge payment). I do not "plan" to retire yet, but I attended an early retirement seminar last Friday which has really got me thinking...maybe too much! Pros and Cons...right now working 3 days a week I feel that I am semi-retired and I love my job.
I have had my locks highlighted, switched up some eye shadow and added a new lip color to my repertoire. (I need to lose some weight but that is an on-going issue and I have not yet figured out my plan of attack in that area.) I'll post on that when I am good and ready...if ever I am. But for now...
I  have been exploring alternate styles of clothing...I have been browsing the department stores to see what merchandise they are showcasing for spring and summer. I have bought and leafed through quite a few fashion magazines. I see many combinations that I would not be caught dead in, and many others that scream "Freak fashion". Lots are just way too young and many more do not embrace the ripple effect that I have going here!
I have tried those tight SPANX, but cannot abide shallow breathing...after all I do Yoga and we breathe deeply and fully expand the belly and the chest. It is detoxifying and de-stressing...and I practice whenever I am able.
I do not want to look like a 55 year old woman trying to recapture her youth or look remarkably tacky. Nor do I want to reinvent myself, or change who I am. I just want to try something new, a modification, and add a wee bit of fun into my already conservative wardrobe. It is a bit of a risk changing and bending a few of my rules, but it is not like getting Botox or having a face lift...and it's a lot less expensive.

I already own this Liz sweater in grape...

While my Volvo was in getting serviced today I had a 2 hour shopping extravaganza. I tried on more clothes today than I have done in the past 3 months! I tried combinations that I would not normally look twice at, colors that were brighter, styles that had more details, ruffles, frills, tucks, patterns and prints.
I was surprised by what I discovered...and even more surprised with what I bought and brought home!

New tee, and note there is a flower on the front, and it goes well with my Liz sweater.

My usual tee would have been one solid color. 

A bit of bling, black sparkles on a white tee.

How racy is that? I think I can hear some sniggling...

Wide ankle legged striped Gap pants with Vertical stripes and I actually look taller.

The wider legs are surprisingly flattering, go figure!

Pocket detail

Wanna-be Audrey capri's...I feel it's time for Tiffany's.

Asymetrical hemline, loose top which can be worn with capris, belted, or not!

Sequined flats

Bling for the feet.

I did not spend much, these are not investment pieces, and I did have a lot of  fun.

 I have a few new combo's and I will gently introduce these into my daily round and see if I get any feedback; positive, negative, comments or looks.

I know a great charity shop IF these fail to delight.

I am not the kind of woman who likes to wear Red Hats and Purple garments at the same time, all the power to you if you do, I have heard that those gals have Tons of Fun!

Gardening in gloves, sans pearls.

Dead heading required!

I have been known to garden in pearls and a dress....this is usually when picking roses for a bouquet or enjoying a walkabout before going to or hostessing an event...peeking for the odd weed that might need to be plucked.
Yesterday, it was not a pearl day, I was in full on assault gear, waging a war on the weeds, aka "guerilla gardening" in the Humble Bungalow Garden. Gloves, garden clogs, sunscreen...weeds had taken over and there was a huge amount of debris to be cleared...it took over 4 hours to trim the edges, weed and rake and tidy up for spring.
Part of my routine is savouring how the garden looks after the blitz.

Euphorbia

Euphorbia bracts

Hellebore

Hellebore

Yellow blooms are so cheerful!

Primulas

Crocus

Birds of a feather....

Hellebore bloom

English Primroses

Snowdrops

Bowling ball and shell...a bit of whimsy.

It is early February and we are 3 weeks ahead in the blooming schedule as the weather has been so mild. It won't be long before I will be picking flowers to bring inside the Bungalow. 

One of my favorite things to do is create lavish bouquets using a variety of foliage and flowers and pop them into vintage vases and conatiners and place them around the house.

I can hardly wait!

What are you waiting for?

Happy Birthday to my "baby".

Yesterday was my son's 29th birthday. 

He is married, with a lovely (and very beautiful) wife, is fortunate to have a  home, a good job and is going to become a father in early June.... I did say "Father."

 (my baby is going to be a parent)

He was almost 2 when we moved into the Bungalow and it doesn't seem that long ago.

I can still see him riding his bike on the sidewalk in front of the house...playing with his lego, cuddling his dog, playing ice hockey...or coming home from school famished and needing a snack.

 Love, joy, and memories....powerful emotions are stirring within.

Tonight we are all going out for dinner to celebrate and then coming back here to the Humble Bungalow. 

On the dessert menu; strawberries, chocolate and bubbly.

Handbag dilemma.....Fashionable luxe, love it or leave it?

Late 1890's antique country cupboard and 1950's silver.

Witness the juxtaposition of styles.

Does this work? 

The humble and the polished.

Worn and weathered,

chipped and crazed,

crackled,

Does the shine and elegance of the silver elevate the humble cupboard or does the humble cupboard elevate the silver?

 "What IF" the Humble Hostess were to carry a luxe bag?

Think Louis Vuitton or Chanel to name a couple, there are many more...

The idea is carrying me away....Frugal scholar  has indeed given me pause to reflect with her recent comments about my proposed bag shopping.

She has blogged about buying a great piece of art when they were cash challenged...we bought a Chris Craft yacht the very same way! 

We had not yet paid off our mortgage, were living in a fixer upper, had 2  children in school, hockey and ballet lessons, Volvo payments, and a Golden retriever..."carpe diem" we seized the day and have never regretted it...blissful family holidays and memories that will live in my heart forever.

She is absolutely correct in saying that I am able to buy the luxe dream bag...

Stay tuned....

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Eye-ing the flowers...and yesterdays highlights!

Spring is all dressed up and showing her colors. 

Time for me to lighten up too.

Behold, a new set of shadows "The Stone Collection" by Dr. Hauschka.

I had some highlights put in my hair to add some "light" and balance to the grey which has grown in around my temples. I have deliberated ad nauseum about my hair, grey vs. allover color or subtle camoflauging highlights. I did not want to be at the salon every month as my hair grows at least an inch a month so all over was ruled out...grey was getting me down. A head of silver white hair I would have  embraced, but unfortunately my grey is coming in patchy and predominately near my temples. 

Under the professional advice of my hairdresser I chose the highlight route...grows out gracefully, no real root issues, soft color, allows for the greys to do some of the work and can be "mane-tained" every few months.

I adore my hairdresser, she entertained me for 3 hours today while working her magic, and I feel rejuvenated and my hair feels so wonderful.

My new hair neccessitated softer eye shadow. 

I started with the shadow on the left, swiped it all over the lid and a touch just under the highest part of the arch of my brow. To soften and add some light, the next shade swooped over the outer part of the lid and the third to subtly define the crease just above the lid. 

The last shade is darker and more intensly pigmented and says "evening" to me so I will save that for a dramatic effect and candlelighting.

Just as liberating as spring cleaning, which infuses a refreshing airy-ness. I swap my color palette and switch up my lip colors and shadows, creating a sense of energy that transitions from spring to summer.

My homage to spring, a la Hermes, les jardins d'Andalousie.

J'adore Printemps!