Lazy Saturday...after a big night on the town.

I slept in and am sipping a mug of real coffee, the first in many months. Feeling very lazy sitting here in my robe and slippers...
There is something so decadent about waking up to the aroma of coffee brewing in the kitchen.
We had a wonderful evening last night and it was a later one than is usual on a Friday evening after a busy week.
It's hard to imagine that we can go out on the town and live it up like we did when we were much younger. Good to know that we haven't forgotten how to have fun!

We were celebrating the fact that I have a new job!

Flowers from my daughter's fellow!

We walked downtown and dined at one of our city's top restaurants and then we hoofed it over to a heritage hotel by the sea and had a bottle of champagne, a gift from my daughter's fellow. I don't like the word "boyfriend" as that does not adequately describe him because he is a man not a boy.

I could have pinched myself as we were sitting on sumptuous leather sofas enjoying the lights of the harbour living it up and savouring the moment rubbing shoulders with international tourists.

As we were leaving we strolled through the convention center and were surprised to see a large group of red headed Lucille Ball look a likes...the Ricky Ricardo's were inside waiting!

It was a dreamy date and such a memorable way to celebrate and mark new beginnings.

New beginnings and the rapid way that change is making an entrance into what was a predictable routine has taken us by storm and I am reeling...
but all in a good way.

Once I started to action change with a new approach to fitness and health, lots of things started happening and there seems to be a domino effect.

The new job is going to be a challenge and one that I am keen to take on. I am ready to embrace a new direction in the late stages of my career and have so many tricks in my bag just waiting...so wait no longer, it's time.

Walking to work is going to be such a bonus.
Not only is it healthier it's greener and cheaper!

I did have to go out and buy some good looking walking shoes that I could wear to work.
(They cost less than 4 Michelin tires for the Volvo though!)
I never need an excuse to buy shoes, who does?

Adrienne over at The Rich Life (on a budget) has done some shoe shopping recently...
she has chosen some lovely colours.

I imagine that you are not surprised that the shoes are black...

Lisa over at Privilege shares a love of black footwear.

She just started a new job and check out how great she looks in her khaki and black.

a little silver bling in the mesh

they are not shoes for the faint of heart

they have serious support and are made by Geox

which has a patent on their shoe building technology.

I am lusting over some Frye boots and tried on some fabulous Ralph Lauren riding boots at Winners...

they are most definitely investment boots...

(cheaper than Michelin's hmmm....)

I just don't know if they are in the budget right now.

The reno is taking most of our cash and still is the number one priority around here.

Lots to think about...

I am taking today as a lazy day to ponder the whirlwind of change that is blowing through the Humble Bungalow.

(I had better get dressed as the plumber will be here in a few minutes!)

I am still the same Hostess

but with a newness that is redefining 

how I view my life and the direction that I seem to be going.

Make the most of your weekend whatever you choose to do...

carpe diem

take a leap of faith and shake up your world.

Life's a Beach....and then it's gone.

I am taking you along on the beach walk this afternoon.

Walking at the same time of day means meeting and greeting the same folks as they are out strolling, walking and jogging. Dogs are allowed on the beach from September on so there are a wide variety of canines and their owners.
I could easily have another Golden Retriever to keep me company on my jaunts...
our hearts still weep when we remember our wonderful and faithful Rufus.

Observing the people as I walk by I have noticed that there is a large fit group of older women...

all smiling!

It interests me that most are walking solo like myself.

They are wearing pretty pink shades of lipstick

sunglasses

and dressed in practical and stylish walking shoes.

I have noticed that polar fleece is very popular and the colours range from black to brights.

Down jackets and coats seem to be the favourite with the elderly.

Nordic walkers are few and far between but when they pass they take up the entire width of the sidewalk and one must stop to allow them to pass or hop down off the sidewalk and walk on the road. 

They obviously do not like to yield to oncoming traffic!

A few older couples shuffle along holding hands before they stop to sit on a bench to rest and peruse the shore.

There is constant chatter with these couples and I wonder what it is that they are discussing...

I am assuming that they have been married forever...

so lovely to see their connections.

Magnificent old trees dot the shoreline.

In the stormy winter winds these bow and sway threatening to break...

their placement on the shore has them directly in the line of fire.

the sand is soft and walking on the beach does wonders for one's calf muscles

I prefer to wear boots or I get mucky sandy shoes.

In the summertime 

barefoot beach walking is a great exfoliant for the feet.

a lovely calm day on the sea...

hardly a ripple and it's November.

sunshine-y flowers popping up out of the grassy shoreline

"bloom where you are planted"

quiet moments of meditative walking 

are so restorative

 Mother Nature is showing off her best assets.

One does absorb simple joys

and experience moments of clarity.

Change is the theme here in the Humble Bungalow.

Not one change but many...

I am waiting on some news on the career front

and rather impatiently....

One of my nearest and dearest has just lost her Mother...

she is/was the same age as my Mom and I am rather shaken by this news.

I took a lovely orchid and a card and gave her hugs and we cried

I felt so powerless

there is so little one can do or say in these moments.

Being there was all I could muster.

Mother and I will be at the memorial

they were friends too

 Mother has taken it very hard...

life is so precious

do not take anything for granted

it can change in a heart beat.

Eating like a French Femme

Baby it's cold outside and there is nothing more soothing than a bowl of homemade soup.
Not only does the Bungalow take on a scent that tempts ones taste buds it actually fills the rooms with a cozy warmth.

Soup season is upon us and I bought a very large sack of onions at the Market which were such an amazing price that they virtually crawled in the cart all by themselves.

Dinner is economical when you take the time to prepare it from scratch

I find the process very therapeutic.

I cried a little slicing these strong onions!

They were happy tears...

The sweetness of the onions come out when they gently sizzle in the pan.

I do not own individual onion soup bowls so I used what I had on hand.

The slices of French bread go in first then top with soup and the grated cheese last.

They float to the top and I popped them under the broiler until the cheese was melted.

French Onion Soup 

by

Jules Breteuil

made by The Hostess

Update on the Hostess Health Regime...

now would be a good time to click off if you are bored by these small accomplishments...

I have not lost any more weight but the good news is that my shape is changing

which is very encouraging...

the belly fat seems to be shrinking

my calves are getting bigger

my hips smaller

I am only weighing in once a week to avoid being compulsive as it's not ALL about the weight

it's really more about having more energy and feeling healthy.

My BFF shared a breakfast cereal recipe with me that I think is wonderful.

It is based on the Skinny B cereal which is quite expensive so clever gal that she is

she made her own.

Like my BFF 

(she is wise and seriously savvy)

I did the same.

Copycat that I am!

Here's the basic formula;

1 cup organic buckwheat

1 cup organic chia

1 cup hulled hemp hearts

(optional additives are dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds)

Put 2 tablespoons in a bowl and 4 tablespoons water, juice or milk let sit 5 minutes 

top with 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt

and fruit

whatever you have on hand.

It sticks with you and has a great nutty flavour 

and is a super source of Omegas and fiber.

Keeps the blood sugar levels stable too.

Store this in the fridge for maximum freshness.

Thank you for dropping by today...

I heard on the news that there are over 200,000 active blogs on the net!

I am so grateful that you decided to pop in for a visit.

Now go off and seize what the day has to offer up to you.

Hostess

XO

Waterfront walking the Hostess's route...

It was an early walk the morning that I snapped these images...
I struggled getting up the nerve as it was raining cats and dogs.

By the time I had negotiated the first few blocks there was a clearing in the weather and things improved immensely.

Good morning Sunshine!

I should have worn my sunglasses

it was really bright after the sun peeked through the clouds.

I was alone on the seafront

the only sounds were of gulls as they dipped and dove.

I wore my hair up in a messy up do to camouflage the fact that I hadn't styled it at all.

I wore my old grey LuLu Yoga pants

yoga top and down jacket.

Not one speck of glamour could be seen in this ensemble.

I wasn't looking for glamour

 walking and hoping for some health benefits.

The ocean calm with just a hint of a ripple on the rocky shore.

A feast for the eyes...

soaking in beauty is calorie free!

Kelp looking very much like a twisted mass of noodles.

A spot of pink

wild rose

damp with raindrops.

Hope that your are having a great start to your week.

Try and keep hydrated

and if you are on this journey to wellness with me

I hope that you are feeling positive about your regime.

Boo! it's Halloween

Halloween is here and I am excited to see all the wee children in their costumes.
They come knocking on the Humble Bungalow front door for treats.
Choruses of "trick or treat" are often shouted loudly before I even get the door open!
The event starts early around dinner time and we usually call it a night by 9 pm it's lights out.
We have never run out of candy before and I always worry that I haven't bought enough.
Some of my co workers get several hundred children, we usually have around 25 and if the weather is really inclement we may have as few as 10.

Our Jack o' Lantern is carved with jagged teeth

and spooky eyes.

Nothing very artsy, just the run of the mill pumpkin face

as in the past years when the kids were home we'd all take turns carving

and it was a group effort.

This year I was the sole carver.

I decorated the front porch while Mr. HB went to Home Depot to see about our new shower.

The reno is in full swing and taking up a lot of Mr. HB's time and expertise.

I am trying to keep the dust to a minimum

and sweep after each work session...

I am not very handy

but I can clean and am a passable painter

so my job is to keep the crew fed!

I hope the little ones are not scared tonight.

We've got a big bowl of candy to give out and I confess that I have snuck a few sweets myself

and I KNOW they are not allowed on my diet but I did it anyway!

I was hoping for a black cat but I had to settle for this black crow instead.

This black Mondo grass is thriving in the front yard.

I planted two this fall and have nestled them between 3 limelight hydrangeas.

The garden is looking like it's ready to turn in for the season and slumber until next Spring.

Which is fine by me because I am ready to sink my teeth into some new books.

We have a great used bookstore in the village

and I walked down there yesterday for some fresh air and a little book browsing.

I didn't come home empty handed so these will be added to the stack of books

that I have waiting for me to read.

I have been giving away books like nobody's business.

No storage means less clutter.

In keeping with the spooky theme here's 

Thriller 

I remember when it first came out 

how impressed I was by the choreography and the special effects.

It's still worth watching.

Happy Halloween!