Monday, September 20, 2010

Lanvin and Park Avenue...interlopers in the Humble Bungalow!

When it comes to scarves 
I am wooed by Hermes and luxe silk
handrolled edges

 I can be persuaded to purchase other designers scarves
and here's an example


a foray into orange
with the safety net of navy and white


Park Avenue shirt
softest cotton
and 
it is made for a man
but worn by a woman
because...


the quality
is Luxe



I feel very comfortable wearing a man's shirt
I can wear it with the collar and cuffs turned up
and tucked into jeans
or layer it over a white tank
open
or loosely belted
simple
yet 
dare I say
chic!

is there a certain look or style that makes you feel more confident ?
....like my happy red shoes

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Summer's over but not according to Nelly!

A pleasant surprise greeted me when I popped out on the sundeck to take some images of the garden...
Nelly Moser clematis divine!

obviously she's happy here
as she's putting on another show


the raised veggie beds are still producing beets and swiss chard
the patio tomatoes have more to offer

here's the area we reclaimed as grass
for future familygames
we bought sod
 Kentucky Bluegrass
rolled it out 
instant lawn
a bit of a colour difference
 Mr. HB assures me this will eventually blend 
the rose and other plants were relocated
and some were put on the boulevard with the free plants sign

my neighbour across the street has Muscovey ducks
 besides eating sowbugs and slugs they have been eating her hostas 
she took all the hostas that I could supply
I suggested that she skip a step
instead of planting them....
give them straight to the ducks
oops!
(she raised her eye but did not look amused)


I needed mascara
I do not like my lashes naked and pale
so I purchased
Mosscara

infused with sap moss
a greener choice
a gardener can appreciate this product
I love the formulation
easy to apply
separates lashes 
and they look thick without globby hitch-hikers

my salon's esthetician informed me that the new rose based mascara will be the penultimate mascara
 available Spring 2011
I've already marked my calendar.


Bungalow indoor kitchen sill garden
phalaenopsis orchid
and 
 Lamp Berger
my favourite way to scent the home



I've completely forgotten this hardy plants name
It blooms forever...

dinner is simmering on the stove
tonight a simple supper
clam chowder
a one pot wonder
perfect for Fall

what did you do this weekend?
what are you planning to do this coming week?

Friday, September 17, 2010

Hunting, gathering, and Mother's influence...


I have been hunting for flat boots to wear with my skinny jeans and newer leggings, the heavier knit ones in black.

I am happy to say that I found them!
and new to me I am taking a risk and shopping online
not something that I normally do.

I like to try things on, look them over, and check the craftmanship...
well these were given 5 stars by customers and they are leather so...
I have ordered them
fingers crossed they will not disappoint.

They are on their way...
I'll let you know what the verdict is when I put them on.



Mother, my sister and I went for lunch this week
something that we are doing more often
it's such a lovely relaxed way to get to visit mother.
We choose somewhere quiet
with a view.
The resaturant had an ocean view
and we managed to sit at a window 
we watched the boats at moorage 
and people dock walking.


I ate the most delightful portobello mushroom stuffed with artichoke and crab and served with a tossed green salad and a light vinagrette.

After lunch my sister wanted to check out a new store and we ended up shopping!
We three are drawn to shopping when we are together...
Mother encourages us to buy a treat whenever she is around.
I think it harkens back to the days when she chose our clothes
she still gives us the nod if she likes how we look when we emerge from the fitting room.
I have been a rebel on occasion and bought something on which she gave the thumbs down
but usually she is right.
She knows fashion
has a keen eye
and dresses herself in classic clothing always with a current edge.

She never fails to charm the salesclerks and holds court in the shop!

This tunic top got the the nod
and a smile.
Camel coloured knit top which I plan to wear with my leggings and skinny jeans



It is a great weight skims the body and is cozy and warm.




soyaconcepts...
they are a newer line
being carried by the boutique
priced at under $100




Zipper detail
which I quite like!

I've seen a lot of zippers on LBD's
and tops this season
sewn on the outside

My home ec teacher would not have tolerated this back in the late 60's!

I do not sew clothing
I can do curtains, pillows and duvet covers...
all straight lines.
I had to rip out so many of my projects in school
uneven stitching, 
bubble darts
 zips that were askew
crooked buttonholes

it's odd 
 Mother was a fabulous seamstress
she made my sister and I matching dresses 
with the remnants from the dresses that she created for herself


I remember one year she made a long velvet skirt 
and purchased a silver sequinned sleeveless shell 
to wear with it for the Christmas holidays
such "Glam" our family had never seen!
I recall thinking how fabulous she looked

well I am delighted to say
I give her the nod
she still looks great!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

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.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

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
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.