Domestics and a Luxe Park Avenue Diet...

Humble Bungalow was shrouded in fog this morning
the sound of foghorns is truly eerie and haunting.

Fall is definitely in the air...
and it's rather dull looking outside.
To perk up my daily round
and energize
I put the furnace on,
layered a sweater over my Tee shirt,
a Lands End cozy cashmere cheery red,
dark denim skinny jeans rolled up,
red Miz Mooz flats.
(I haven't found the elusive boots yet)

Domestic days are routine in the Humble Bungalow...
water wooshing through the pipes...
the sounds of the washer and the dryer as they go through their cycles
the contented hum of domesticity.

I've tackled, purged, and arranged the spices,
I've sorted the junk drawer...
(I allow myself to have just one!)
and this drawer is big enough to satisfy my needs.

Domestics day is a great day to make soup
the ritual of chopping is calming
something chock full of veggies simmering on the stove and scenting the kitchen
and while the soup is bubbling there's time to sit and savour a cup of tea.

I recently pulled this book off my bookshelf and am re-reading snippets of it to refresh my memory

 of the mainpoints

and to re-commit to the key strategies.

What attracted me to this book was it's title...

and something I remember hearing... 

"You can never be too rich or too thin"

a quote by The Duchess of Windsor

( I think one can be too thin...but rich? )

The author, Jana Klauer, M.D., writes in her introduction...

"Park Avenue. These two words conjure up images of wealth, privilege, and ease. 

Park Avenue is New York's grandest boulevard"

She shares with the reader a lot of information which is savvy, sensible and smart.

She is an advocate of daily exercise, eating protein, getting enough calcium, conquering food cravings, ridding the diet of ALL processed foods, and drinking 2 -3 quarts of water every day.

It is easy to follow

and

the recipes in the book are luxe, 

I imagine a spa

might serve these tasty dishes!

What books inspire you to lead a healthier lifestyle?

Hope that you are keeping warm, snug and cozy.

Seeing things more clearly now...

my collection of hair clips

I feel that these might be 

a fashion faux pas

I wear them and care not a fig

if they are "in" or "out"

Do you remember the former hairband days of Hilary Clinton ?

she's at it again!

 Hairbands, or Alice Bands as they are known in the UK, are in fact, back "in fashion"

did they ever go "out"?

I think sweatbands did...

but what do I know?

I have heard little about clips...

maybe I am choosing not to see

or hear what might be said of them...

maybe they are unremarkable,

undesirable?

or tacky.

Tiffany's, Hermes or Cartier 

could sell lovely gem encrusted clips

that one could wear

as hair jewelry

I have not found any quality clips

in my city

not in the antique malls

 jewelry shops

or 

mainstream merchants

and I keep looking

I have been growing my hair 

for a few months

and now it falls into my eyes

this bothers me when gardening or bending forward

so I have employed the use of these

grips

as seen here

I am looking forward to when the length has reached my shoulders

my hairdresser says it will be probably be December or thereabouts

(I hope she refrains fom her scissor happy snipping)

I booked "colour only" for my next appointment

 I will be able to put it up in a pony tail

or wear an updo

a french roll

 quick and easy

with a few stray strands at the sides

the curls 

soften

the 

face

 two donuts that I bought from Finland

aka scrunchies

mette was instrumental in my purchase of these donuts...
it was the power of suggestion

perhaps even a mild case of blogger envy..
she has chic taste
designer clothing
and high end style
go visit and you'll see what I mean.

My lovely daughter came by the other day after her appointment at the salon

 her hair falling just to her shoulders

 much shorter now

she looks even prettier

 (if that's possible)

her hair has more body

and 

I love the loose soft waves 

Here I am a few months ago...

           and this month...

I do not feel very relaxed 

having my picture taken

even if it is a self portrait

I must get over this...

or remove my glasses

ah! 

a happy blur

fellow blogger materfamilias

is much braver than I

see for yourself!

and this recent post by mette 

beautiful

and while we are on the portrait topic

look at

Lisa from a mid life of privilege

leading the way

back when she was a youngster!

Beastly news...

I have damaged my glasses

(the scratch starts above the i in Fendi and goes to my finger)

I wear my glasses

to read or type or thread a needle

not to watch TV, garden, walk or drive...

 the coating somehow got scratched when I was cleaning them

so the eye on the side of the affected lens sees the line

annoying me immensely

more than the hair falling into my gaze...

incidentally the side of the hair falling forward is also the scratched lens side

I could just dispense with the clips and let the hair fall where it may

the lens would be obscured 

and all would be well

or 

would it?

I have swapped back to my former pair as seen in the last image

and I will need to go and have my lens repaired or have a new pair made

so much for not shopping.

White tops and black bottoms...

Here they are!

My favourite all time uniform

white tops and black bottoms

these are timeless

just add your personal touch

and you're good to go

anywhere

brought to my attention 

courtesy of GAP

Donna Karan

love this!

Hugo Boss

another winner!

Guess

by Marciano

I would not choose this look for me

but the bra looks very well made and sturdy

It reminds me of the cotton bras

that I wore in the 60's!

Black and white = ladylike

I know this!

minimalism

black

+

white

simple 

this is the recipe

 for dressing

Hostess style

I could have written these words!

it seems so natural

luxe

soft wool

style

Dear Santa...

I lead a very pedestrian life

but one day 

I want to walk

tall

and carry

a Chanel bag...

I could start here and work my way up!

Bazaar magazine

$5.99

(plus HST)

$6.71 

a bargain

for such 

an

adventure

classic

chic

smart

simple

there's a lot packed into this issue

my weekend = R&R

a wee bit of weeding...

clothes 

and the garden

Carpe diem

Hermes...and back to school duds...

I got an invitation in the mail today...

Oh la la...

quality paper

large envelope

one of my favourite retailers

and it's addressed to me!

pebbled

leather

Hermes 

H

a meet?

meet who?

From Paris 

a

Hermes craftsman

October 5-8th

I am busy those days

and cannot attend

oh well.

 any day now

I 'll be picking up 

my new scent

Voyage d'Hermes

If only I could scent my blog

I think you'd agree

it's soft and subtle

green and crisp

I think I can wear it to school

I enjoyed some retail therapy

I did not spend much

I picked up some washable work duds

kid proof

library friendly

easy peasy pieces

I bought a sturdy pair of black leggings

in a heavier knit from Cleo $50

they fit and flatter

hello

they make me look slim

(thank you Cleo that's no easy task!)

 a longer top

in a skinny knit with uneven striping

different details on both bottom pockets 

Kenzie Pretty

on sale @ $30

Black knit Gilmour vest already in my closet

oops... a bit blurry

this is better...

necklace made by my friend Louise

tumbled blue glass beads and fresh water pearls

silver clasp

can you see these two pockets?

one blue

one stripey

I also have a long black sweater

with an assymetrical bottom

longer in front

which I can wear when I do not want to wear the vest.

I think I need short black leather boots

I can always wear ballet flats

but I think this look might need boots

what do you think?

I went to 2 malls hunting for boots

and have not yet found a pair that

suit my purpose

I want 

black

leather

flattish heels

shorter

with minimal detail

lovely daughter was my advisor

we came home late

ordered in Chinese food

had a few glasses of wine

I sent her home in a cab!

ZZZZ 

6 am comes early

it's late

I'm off to bed-for-sure

sweet dreams

Some simple things that make and keep me happy...

Let me start by stating that I am not a Pollyanna...

I am by nature an optimist

I lean towards sappy

I am very much a family gal

 I befriend for life

my ties are strong

 I defend my beliefs...

(I can be stubborn)

I have not always been in a happy place

I went through a patch of poutiness and darkness in early menopause

I felt profound sadness

and didn't know why

I spent many years tending to the needs of others

my family

my job

working here to keep the home fires burning 

 working at school

my life was fast paced

demanding

and I was in constant

fight or flight

mode.

I put my own needs aside in a corner  

I would ignore them 

I felt that all the other things required of me were of a high priority

until...

one day I felt very blue

and weary

laden with a heavy burden

WHY?

I had questions and no answers...

I went through the motions of work

home keeping

mothering

entertaining

volunteering

attending meetings

balancing the cheque book

grocery shopping

cooking

weeding the garden

and I felt

something was amiss

What?

I read self help books

ate chocolate

and settled upon the book

Simple Abundance 

by Sarah Ban Breathnach 

which was instrumental in my healing.

she has a website! who knew?

I found myself 

savouring

noticing

taking time to get to know what I liked and enjoyed

time to

honour and nurture

myself

Hello Me!

That was quite a few years ago and I have never looked back.

I have grieved the death of both of our fathers

supported 2 family members with cancers

and

have had to find my own way

and not get bogged down with negativity.

Some simple things that make and keep me happy are:

My

love of the ocean

 the fresh salt air

the sound of the lapping waves

The waterfront walk

not far from The Bungalow

it

calms

refreshes 

recharges

I can sit and ponder

reflect

and de-stress

and look at the view 

beyond

breathing in beauty

The ocean changes with the tides and weather

the colours can be bright or grey and dull

it can be warm and calm or stormy and cold.

as long as I am dressed for the weather

I am happy to be walking

There are so many simple things that contribute to my well being

and most of them are free

Hunting and gathering

from nature

"found items"

things that I do not set out to look for...

seem to find their way into my gaze

and I am pleased

and often surprised

shells

feathers

driftwood

foliage

flowers

stones

Gifts...

unexpected

out of the blue

significant when made by the giver

Arts and Crafts candlesticks designed and crafted by darling son

in shop class at school

made of oak

with copper tops

and only pure beeswax candles can live here!

I adore and honour beeswax

the scent

the warm and gentle light

and that all those wonderful industrious bees co-operated to make the wax.

I use these often

and when I light the flame

I take a moment to reflect and give thanks.

I love a  phone conversation

with my BFF

it can be a short or long call

sharing life and events

checking in to see how she is doing

what's new

what might be troubling her

what her family is up to...

 the sound of her voice

checking in and connecting

we laugh

we cry

it's pure

and honest

it's what we do....

My Family...

my children

my husband...

and Isla

 grand daughter 

of 12 weeks

whose smile can light up a room

she is such a sweet little girl

who has entered my world 

and given me such immense joy

that it is hard to describe...

I would love to see her everyday

just thinking about her puts a smile on my face

my brag book is full!

I know that life has many twists and turns and I have no idea what is around the next corner for me...

but I do know that how I react to these events

and the tools that I employ to get me through the rough bits

are key for me.

More another day.....are your thoughts of gratitude?
So much greatness....in unexpected places.

Hugs from the Hostess