The Doctor is in the House!

I saw myself in a full length mirror the other day and it struck me that my mind and my body are not in sync.
I saw a fat woman gazing back at her image, aghast, incredulous...
yet the mirror does not lie,
it was me staring into the mirror eyeing up a generous rump, and a blurred middle.
How and why did this happen?
Have I been sleep walking through my menopausal years? I think I have been n denial!

I do not want to give up on losing weight...it's been quite a few years, many diets and several dress sizes later...and I find myself wearing a 12 and recently some 14's. I cringe as I write this.
(there, I have typed it and will post it, so I have said it, and you have read it, it is no longer a secret)

Bringing home yet another diet book and I wonder why.
Am I crazy to think that there is some regime out there that will allow me to eat wholesome food that can be bought at the market, food that my husband will eat, food that will nourish satisfy and still shed pounds?
Am I a dreamer?
Will I always be overweight?
What do I need to do besides join and gym to lose some unwanted unhealthy fat?

I have heard talk of this diet by French Dr. Pierre Dukan and now the book is available here in Canada.
Rumor has it that the lovely Kate Middleton, princess royal has been following this diet.
Need I say more?

I lost 20 pounds a few years ago on The South Beach Diet only to gain it all back again within the year.
I tried the Fat Flush Plan before that and lost 15 pounds only to regain 20.
Then the The Park Avenue calcium diet book How the Rich Get Thin which I had great hopes for...but no surprise, it did not work for me.
What I am looking for is a forever eating plan, one that doesn't have extreme phases where food groups are eliminated, one that can be inclusive and sensible, healthy and affordable.

I don't want to buy prepackaged food or food with aspartame or any prepared food for that matter.
I want to eat natural and organic foods, food that is varied and food that comes from from all the food groups.

Dr. Dukan suggests eating protein exclusively in the first phase of his diet for 3-10 days.
Eggs, Greek yogurt, chicken, seafood and lean beef and 1 1/2 quarts of mineral water a day.
No vegetables...no fruit, no starch.
Right there alarm bells are going off.

How can someone who loves veggies eat only meats and seafood?
I suppose if I was guaranteed to lose 20 pounds I might give it a try, but something doesn't sit well with me excluding vegetables seems unbalanced...
I would have thought eating only vegetables would have been the way to slim down.
I have met very few fat vegetarians...maybe I need to give up meat?

This book sits on my bedside table and I read a few chapters at a time. I want to find some tips within the cover that will make it worth the money that I paid for it.
I might be rash in my dismissal of his diet and maybe I will warm to it when I get further into the "meat" of the diet.
I have more questions than answers.

Have any of you followers/readers tried this diet?
What are your opinions on the regime?
Did you lose weight ?
How are you embracing changes in your later years?

I for one am embracing black.
Black dresses, black trousers, black tops, coats, sweaters, vests...a bigger body loves black!
You heard it here...
Paint it Black.

Hostess tips on how to handle stress...

Stress comes and goes..
it can tiptoe in slowly or smack us right in the face.

None of us are immune to stress, there is good stress and bad stress. Stress is often there to nudge us into doing something that we know we "should do"
Other times it comes from things far beyond our control and is shocking in it's persistence and intensity.
While I try to avoid stress, it has crept into my life often and I have had to find ways to minimize it's effect on my mind and body.
Strategies that I use may or may not appeal to you dear readers,
I'd like to share what works for me.

Turn off the TV, radio and telephone...sit in silence.
Soak in a hot tub with scented bath salts.
Sip sparkling mineral water with a wedge of lemon or lime in a pretty glass.
Go to your bedroom climb into bed and cocoon in the warmth of your duvet.
Slowly let a square of good chocolate melt on your tongue, savour the flavour.
Look at some beautiful books, the kind that inspire serenity and calm.
Breathe deeply and focus on the inhalations and the exhalations.
(I do this during Yoga practice.)
Practice Yoga or a similar form of stretching and relaxation.
Dim the lights or light a candle.
Slather some body butter on your feet and put on some cotton socks for a mini spa treatment.
Write in a journal, make note of the positives that occurred in your day, aim for 5 gratitude entires.
If all else fails have a weeping session, blow your nose and move on...often we need to cry to release tension.
If there is someone that you are close with, a friend or partner, try some good old fashioned hugs.

If you can afford it, go to a spa for an aromatherapy massage.
Healing hands work wonders kneading those tight muscles and troubles away.

                                        Remind yourself that "this too shall pass."

If you know someone who is going through a stressful patch
 try to go out of your way to lend a hand
 or better yet, lend an ear and listen to their troubles without judgement.

Often clarity comes to us when we relate our woes to a receptive soul.

I am reminded of that British quote that is popping up everywhere these days...
"Keep Calm and Carry On"

(easier said than done!)

What happens when you are Mother's chauffeur.

Mother drives her convertible BMW (and she's 84!) in a close proximity to her condo. She prefers roads and boulevards that she is accustomed to driving so there are no surprises and she doesn't have any fear of getting lost.
Her beat is familiar and local but limiting, so that's where I come in.
She will often suggest that we make a pilgrimage to a larger store miles beyond the city limits and she prefaces this with "Oh and I'd like to buy you lunch while we are out!"

We lunch about once a week and I am the chauffeur, we drive in my older Volvo wagon, which is easy for her to get in and out of plus it has heated seats which she quite likes. I have noticed lately that she is not dressing for the cooler weather, she wears silk camisoles under a tweed jacket and a summer weight skirt. I have not said anything but if it continues I am going to suggest that we do a seasonal closet change up. She has many closets and many more clothes than she needs but she does love to dress well and shopping is a weekly event for her.
She is lonely and misses my Father and has not made a lot of new friends since he passed away. Sadly many of her friends are now deceased and some are in senior care facilities, which she cannot abide.

Today she told me that it was too rainy to go out for her walk the other day so she strolled through the mall and shopped and got her walk in there!
Talk about creative multi tasking...well done Mom!

We found ourselves at Home Sense which is a large store that specializes in everything that you might need to feather the nest. Candles, cookbooks, cushions, towels, bedding, pots and paraphernalia.

Mother bought a new down pillow that she needed.  I bought two!
We both like to buy new pillows every few years for health reasons.
I love down because it squishes and conforms to my head and suits my sleeping habits perfectly.

Mother bought some pretty patterned padded hangers for her silk blouses.

I bought a set of sheets, and two shams and a new coverlet for the Bungalow Bed.

(oops this is a rather dark image)

I like the quilted detail.

The light was playing havoc while I was trying to capture these shots.

So was Miss Pepper

stay away from my Cashmere and Pearls Pepper!

I am happy to report that the Land's Ends cashmere arrived

and I think they have made a fabulous sweater of good quality and it feels so soft and cozy.

If you are looking for a cashmere sweater I would recommend that you check them out.

They have a great return policy and the garments that I have purchased from their on line shop have been better than I had expected.

(no remuneration has been given to me from Land's End!)

You are a great community of followers.

I am still mulling over all your comments

and I have had a few emails as well.

I'm putting the kettle on to brew a pot of tea

and I hope you'll join me in a virtual tea party.

Hope that your weekend will have a few pleasant surprises in store...

Thank you!

I am so humbled and grateful by the outpouring of comments that you have so kindly left on the bungalow Blog.
Thank you!
My heart feels full and I honoured to be among friends.

Perhaps I just needed some encouragement and the personal feedback has definitely helped me decide on the direction that I need to take here on the blog.

I pay attention to the signposts for fear of getting lost.

I got lost in this neighbourhood and for 20 minutes my passenger and I drove around

 in circles looking for Lucas Avenue!

We were in hysterics by the time we finally found the address that we were looking for...

I wonder if a GPS would have helped us.

I don't think there will be any radical changes here on The Humble Bungalow Blog,
I am planning to get out and about more in the community and I'll try to bring some of the sights and experiences back here for you to see.

There will be some coverage on our basement renovation which we are getting started on...
we will be doing most of the work ourselves other than hiring an electrician, plumber and tiler.

Renovating is dirty and dusty work!

There will be lots of hot baths with time spent soaking in the tub.

Thankfully soap is on the job.

"Anyone's life truly lived consists of work, sunshine, exercise, soap, 

plenty of fresh air, and a happy contented spirit. "

Lillie Langtry

Blogging and thoughts...

Gosh things have gotten busy here!
So many blogs have captured my fancy.
I feel like I am torn now, between reading and writing.
I am searching for a balance and some clarity.

I feel a bit like I have been falling down on the job here on the blog and wonder what I need to do to kick start some improvements.
I have noticed that some followers have opted out and that my traffic is down. Not that I focus on these stats but they do provide feedback.
I have read that some bloggers are returning to work and others have family issues that require their attention so it might be that we are all busy living life and spending less time online. Taking care of family, working and home keeping leaves little time for personal pursuits and fatigue is often a factor.

Pepper enjoying a nap in the sun...

her job is to purr and be petted and pampered

and not much more is expected.

Sounds good to me!

Perhaps it is time for a blog make over?
At almost 500 posts over almost 2 years have I said all that I have to say?
The focus is a bit eclectic...
gardening, shopping, cooking, thrifting,
reading, decorating and de-cluttering
and whatever else might be on my mind.

So dear readers I am asking for your opinion...
Please tell me what you think and don't be shy.

What would you like to see here on The Humble Bungalow Blog?
Would you prefer to have fewer posts?
I welcome your suggestions, comments and critiques.

Fire away!

Sending thoughts of gratitude and thanks to those of you who take the time to stop by and spend a few minutes with me here on The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Hugs from the Hostess
XO